In January 2022, Bola Tinubu, the APC presidential candidate, at the Enugu presidential campaign rally said the Second Niger Bridge was completed by the All Progressive Congress (APC) and would soon be commissioned.
In his words, “that bridge (second Niger) is completed by APC, you will soon see a commissioning for your movements, to move freely…”
Verification
The Second Niger Bridge is a Federal Government project largely constructed by the Muhammadu Buhari government of the APC and was contracted to Julius Berger construction company. The bridge was open to the public for testing from December 15, 2022, to January 15, 2023.
The 1.6-kilometer bridge which has a construction cost of N336 billion links the south-south and southeast zones of the country and has been a political campaign tool for many aspirants.
Although the bridge is still open for a test run, its completion is only the first stage. The public still awaits the yet-to-commence second phase; comprising the construction of the four-kilometer link road on the Delta state end and the seven-kilometer road linking the bridge and Onitsha-Owerri interchange in Anambra state.
As of December 2022, the minister for works and transportation, Babatunde Fashola said the first phase of the bridge has been completed and opened to commuters for 30 days.
It was closed after January 15, 2023.
Verdict
Therefore, Bola Tinubu’s claim that the bridge has been completed is true. As for the claim that the bridge will soon be commissioned, Seyi Martins, the acting federal controller of Works in Anambra State, said the Second Niger Bridge will be fully ready for use by the first quarter of 2024. No date has been set for the commissioning of the bridge.
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