2nd Niger Bridge:Stakeholders Review Impact Assessment.

Okonta Emeka Okelum

Stakeholders drawn from Delta and Anambra States recently at Asaba reviewed the environmental, social and economical impact assessment of constructing the proposed 2nd Niger Bridge.

Federal Ministry of Environment implemented a panel review meeting on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for host communities the project connects within Deltavand Anambra States.

According to Engr Tunde Ekunsuni, director, Public Private Partnership(PPP) department, Federal Ministry of Works, the success of this project is hinged on sound and effective implementation of the Public Private Partnership opportunities.

In his paper presentation, Engr Ekunsumi cited that the first Niger Bridge was constructed in 1965, the construction of the second Niger Bridge was initiated to ease increased road traffic, the first Niger Bridge was subjected to.

Engr Ekunsumi observed that the construction of the second Niger bridge through Public Private Partnership will launch greater opportunity for the Federal Government to set the standard on Public Private Partnership.

The route of the new bridge was estimated at about 12km with a capacity of 2 by 3 lanes and access road estimated at 10.4km with interchange in low lying swampy terrain roads.

Concrete box grinder model specification will be used for the construction model of the bridge, armed with PPP Model, Government Actors, Private Sector, Communities and Citizens stand a lot of chance to win, Engr Ekunsumi pointed out.

Kirsten Jones, an environmental Scientists with Sure on Group, pointed out that the project has a concession period of 25 years with a federal government equity contribution of N30 Billion.

There will be toll gate at the Asaba End of the road, she observed that the need for the construction of the toll gate was informed by a willingness to pay for toll as evidenced by finding from conducted opinion polls.

Kirsten Jones noted that since the tender process began in early 2012, the project life cycle has recorded some notable achievements.

All necessary baseline studies and statutory agreements have being met under the Build Operate & Transfer(BOT) terms, with completed outline business case completed in February 2013, with seed soil investigation, project design and costing completed, Jones stressed.