President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the release of N30 billion from the Subidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) fund to finance the Loko-Oweto Bridge project linking Benue and Nasarawa States.
The Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen, disclosed this on Tuesday during an inspection visit to the project site at Loko community on the Nasarawa State side of the River Benue.
Mr. Onolememen told journalists that the second Niger Bridge, whose construction would commence soon, would also benefit from the SURE-P fund.
“Funding of this project will not be a problem because the funding plan is well thought out,” he said.
He expressed satisfaction with the pace of work on the 2,055m Loko-Oweto Bridge project awarded to Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) on 2 November 2011, at the cost of N36 billion.
He said that the project would be delivered before the target date of 30 November 2015.
The minister noted that the current 20 percent completion stage of the bridge was well ahead of the work schedule.
Mr. Onolememen said that the present administration was determined to deliver the project and the second Niger Bridge before the end of 2015 in fulfilment of its campaign promise.
“As you can see, massive construction work is on-going. So far, the contractor has been able to cast 115 piers and is working simultaneously on 15 piers, well ahead of the work schedule. If the pace continues, the project would be completed before the end of the 48-month duration,” he said.
Listing its socio-economic benefits to the country, Mr Onolememen said it would reduce pressure on the Lokoja Bridge and provide alternative to travellers between the Federal Capital Territory and the South East/South South parts of the country.
“It will also help to reduce the travel time between the North Central and South Eastern/South Southern parts of the country by at least two hours. The bridge will also open up both Loko and Oweto communities on both sides of the River Benue.
“Don’t forget that the approach route from Keffi in Nasarawa State to the bridge at Loko and the approach route from the Oweto end to Otukpo in Benue are parts of the project. Once you are at Otukpo, you are already in South Eastern Nigeria. So, once the project comes on stream the challenges we have on the Niger Bridge in Lokoja will be solved,” he said.
Meanwhile the federal government has reaffirmed its commitment to positively transform the Nigerian road sector towards enhancing economic activities, in line with the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians for the provision of critical infrastructure.
The minister of state for works, Bashir Yuguda made this known in Katsina while commissioning the Katsina-Daura-Mai Adua road and two bridges along the Kano-Katsina federal road in Katsina state.
Mr Yuguda said President Goodluck Jonatahn attaches great importance to all the federal roads in Katsina state due to the fact that almost all are part of the trans-Saharan route linking Nigeria with its northern neighbour, Niger republic.
The Katsina state Deputy Governor, Abdullahi Faskari, who accompanied the minister to the commissioning ceremonies, applauded the federal government’s commitment to road and infrastructural development in the country.