APA – Lagos (Nigeria)
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned the 1.6km Niger Bridge, which connects Asaba in Delta State with Onitsha in Anambra State.
President Buhari, who commissioned the bridge virtually on Tuesday stated that the bridge is one of the critical infrastructures delivered by his administration to promote economic growth and ensure progress for the people.
He assured Nigerians that the bridge and other legacy projects being commissioned showed his administration’s commitment in delivering prosperity across the country.
“I am honoured to hand over this bridge and other projects for public use. The bridge will reduce travel time and promote economic activities in the South East, South-South and other parts of the country.
“Those crossing the old Niger Bridge will no longer experience gridlock as it will help to improve the socio-economic activities of the South-East. In eight years, I am proud to say that we have developed Nigeria’s stock of infrastructure of Gross Domestic Products from about 20 per cent to over 40 per cent and that is not a small undertaken.”
Nigeria’s Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, who represented Buhari physically at the commissioning ceremony said that the event was a great day for the people of the South East and that “it is a promise given and a promise kept. This bridge signifies the major handshake between the West, East and the North”.
According to him, successive governments have come and gone since 1965 when this 2nd Niger Bridge was first muted, but Buhari’s administration has deemed it fit to complete the bridge.
“In every project, there must be a hero and a hero must be named after every project and the hero of this project is President Buhari,” he said.
Local media reports on Wednesday said that the bridge was named after President Buhari. Others are the Loko-Oweto Bridge across River Benue to link The other projects, according to the President’s spokesman, Femi Adesina, include the road from Benue state to Nasarawa State and the Ikom Bridge in Cross River State, while the completed Section of the over 200km of Kano-Kaduna Dual Carriage Expressway and three new Federal Secretariats.
GIK/APA
Buhari commissions 2nd Niger Bridge, other legacy projects
