Eighteen years after its conception, the Second Niger Bridge will be inaugurated today by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Six other legacy projects – the two remaining sections of the Abuja-Kano Expressway; Loko-Oweto Bridge and federal secretariats in Awka (Anambra); Gusau (Zamfara and Yenagoa (Bayelsa) are also listed for virtual inauguration by the President.
All seven projects were executed by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, said in a statement yesterday.
On April 26, Works and Housing Babatunde Fasola, told State House reporter after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) that the Second Niger Bridge and the other projects were ready for delivery to the Federal Government.
The minister, who spoke through his Information, Culture and Tourism colleague, Lai Mohammed, projected May 15 as the delivery date for both the Second Niger Bridge and the Abuja-Kano Expressway.
But the Presidential spokesman confirmed today’s inauguration in the statement.
It reads: “Following through on his administration’s determination to upgrade and expand the nation’s stock of infrastructure, President Muhammadu Buhari will (tomorrow) Tuesday, commission seven legacy projects completed by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing across the country.
“Comprising three major Bridges, three Federal Secretariats and a Road, the historic event will be headlined by the Second Niger Bridge, which was conceptualized in 2005. In 2014, there was an attempt to begin the project through Public Private Partnership (PPP), but this was not successful. The construction began in 2016 with the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF).
“Others are the Loko-Oweto Bridge across River Benue to link Benue to Nasarawa State and the Ikom Bridge in Cross River State while the Road project is the completed Section of the over 200 kilometres of Kano-Kaduna Dual Carriage Expressway and three new Federal Secretariats.
“The first of the Federal Secretariats at Awka is located at Executive Business District Layout, Awka South Local Government Area, Anambra State and is situated on a 5.106 Hectares of land. The project was first awarded on 9th December, 2011 but was practically completed and taken over by the Ministry of Works and Housing on 14th July, 2022.
“The secretariat has a total of 498 Office Space, a Conference Hall, four Committee Rooms, an Exhibition Hall, a Banking Hall, a Post Office and befitting Reception. In addition, the secretariat has lift facilities, well laid out parking spaces and drainages, staff canteen, fire hydrant and other vital facilities.
“The Federal Secretariat Gusau, Zamfara State is located at Unguwan Dan Lawan, off Sokoto By-Pass Road, Gusau, Zamfara State. The project is situated on a 7.5 Hectares of land and was awarded also on 9th but was practically completed and taken over by the Ministry on 30th November, 2022.
“The third to be commissioned is the Federal Secretariat Yenagoa, which is located at Alamieyeseigha Road, in Bayelsa State. It is situated on 7.5 hectares of land and was awarded on 9th December, 2011 but was practically completed and taken over by the Ministry on 30th November, 2022.”
In February, the President Buhari inaugurated Federal Secretariat in Bukar Sidi on Jos Road, Lafia, Nasarawa State.