Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola has reaffirmed the federal government dedication to complete the 2nd Niger Bridge under President Muhammadu Buhari administration before his regime runs out on May 29, 2023. Fashola who revealed this to State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided by the President at the Presidential Villa, stated that work on the multi-billion naira new bridge is about to be completed and was delayed due to the sit-at-home orders being observed by the people in the South-East end of the bridge.
According to him the remaining work in both Obosi and Asaba sides of the bridge were progressing well, with just road markings, fixing of signs and fittings, hence it is being put to temporary use now. He assures that despite the delay, the bridge will be completed and commissioned before the end of the Buhari-led administration. Also, in his statement, Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo Jaji, attributed the delay to litigation for stalling of dredging of the Calabar Port project. He, however, asserts that President Buhari has directed the Ministry of Transportation and that of the Justice to see to it that the issues were resolved amicably.
Individuals and CSOs seeks court order to impede HYPREP.
He noted that challenges encountered by Nigerian Ports Authority with the JV partnership, with respect to the Calabar channel dredging has been as a result of several litigations from both sides. On his part, the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, put blame on some Civil Society Organisations as well as some individuals in Rivers State for stalling Ogoni clean-up through litigations. He mentioned this in response to allegations by the Movement for Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP) against the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) charged with implementing the problematic Ogoni Cleanup in Rivers State of slow pace of work as well as embezzlement.
The Minister of Environment also expressed the government is worrisome just like the MOSOP over the allegations on HYPREP and in terms of seeing the slow pace at which the the project is being carried out. Abdullahi explains that a times individuals and CSOs within Ogoni Land do seeks court order to impede HYPREP from carrying out the project execution process, hence government are not to be blame in most cases. He noted that this actions has hindered the process as captured in PPP. He added that currently, a group known as Good Conscience has gone to court to restrain the federal government from continuing with that water projects, which has stalled the execution.
Stakeholders assures peace in the land in terms of project execution.
Therefore, it is notable that individuals with interest in specific areas or projects within the Ogoni land are said to be the main causes of the impediment and delays on the projects execution. With the funding guarantees in place, government has set up fortified supervisory and monitoring evaluation team to ensures smooth running of the projects. Also, stakeholders assurances has been secured to enable a reinvigorated peace in terms of project execution in Ogoni land. Speaking on the allegation of embezzlement against HYPREP, the minister said, argues that, some of these accusations are not very objective at times and in most cases they are propelled by ulterior motives to distract HYPREP.
According to Abdullahi the government is now open to investigate any allegation that has been made against any of the partners in the ministry. So if there is any case of mismanagement or misconduct, such firm will surely be forced to follow the law. He further clarified the assertion on the funding arrangement to finance the remediation projects and whether or not the IOCs are involved in the contributions, indicating that it is true. There is dedicated a fund being superintended by the Ogoni Trust Fund, which essentially has been pooled together by the IOCs to actually finance the remediation projects under this principle of the polluter pays.
The president approved Crash Calls to finance the remediation projects.
Additionally, he said recently the President approved the Crash Calls to finance this projects in line with the budget as approved by the Governing Council of HYPREP, serving as the dedicated fund. Speaking on the collateral deaths in Zamfara State when the air force bombarded the terrorists in their hide-out, the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed laments on the unfortunate collateral deaths in the state, saying that the government bemoaned it. Mohammed explains that fighting insurgency is a very difficult thing and as much as the the military are being careful such incident happens a times.
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Buhari pledges to complete 2nd Niger Bridge – Buhari-led administration promise to commission the bridge before May 2023. – Express your point of view.
The government’s concern over the HYPREP allegations and the project’s sluggish progress was also conveyed by the minister of the environment, who shared this concern with MOSOP.
I hope this second Nigeria bridge is completed soon. It has been in construction for years and it hasn’t been completed. I hope the president keeps to his promise before he hands over to another government.
Buhari pledges to complete 2nd Niger Bridge. All the pledge by government is not working out the way the said it with their mouth. They can make empty promises. We are watching them
It is noteworthy that people with interests in certain regions or projects within the Ogoni territory are cited as the main obstacles and causes of delays in the projects’ execution.
I hope the govt keeps to it promise to construct the 2nd Niger bridge before he hands over to another govt. It’s not guaranteed another gov’t would finish it as soon as expected.
If the Buhari-led administration want to complete the 2nd Niger bridge before the expiration of their tenure then they must ready to fast track the resolution of the MOSOP against the HYPREP situation bedeviling their land, otherwise MOSOP will resist the completion of that bridge.
Until President Muhammadu Buhari’s term ends the federal government is committed to constructing the Second Niger Bridge. Fashola, speaking to reporters outside the State Department following the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council, broke the news.
The minister of the environment expressed to MOSOP the government’s worry over the HYPREP claims and the project’s slow pace.
I hope Nigeria’s second bridge is finished soon. Years have passed without completion. Before stepping down, I hope the president follows his word.
People having interests in various locations or projects in Ogoni are the main barriers and causes of project delays.
The completion of construction of the new bridge, which will cost multiple billions of naira and has been delayed as a result of individuals living at the South-East end of the bridge obeying orders to stay indoors, is almost at hand.
The completion of construction of the new bridge, which will cost multiple billions of naira and has been delayed as a result of individuals living at the South-East end of the bridge obeying orders to stay indoors, is almost at hand.
I hope they held to their pledge to complete the 2nd Niger bridge the construction as been go on years back it will be good of it is completed before this adminstration tenure finished
Not bad seeing the president trying to finish what he started. The administration should make sure it hand over power in good terms after completing it agendas.
If the second Niger bridge is completed as the President said,it will be a very good loud able project because it will reduce the stress people normally pass through when using the former bridge.
The second Niger bridge is really good and welcoming,because it will benefits all citizenry they should just finish up and let everything function properly.
It’s worth noting that the major causes of the obstruction and delays on the projects’ implementation are reported to be those with vested interests in certain locations or projects within the Ogoni land.
Because of legal action taken by an organization known as Good Conscience to prevent the federal government from moving forward with a certain water project, the implementation process has been slowed down.
Since the government is now able to provide funding guarantees, it has established a strengthened supervisory and monitoring evaluation team in order to verify that the projects are carried out efficiently.
The assurances of the parties have been obtained, which will allow for a revitalized peace with regard to the execution of the project in Ogoni territory.
The Buhari-led administration has promised to complete the 2nd Niger bridge before the end of their term. Please every conflict that need to be resolve should be done fast because after this administration that project might be abandon.