By Luke Onyekakeyah on September 1, 2015

The first Onitsha-Asaba Niger Bridge was
completed in December 1965. Built by the
French construction giant Dumez, the bridge
linked the defunct Eastern and Western regions
of Nigeria. Today, it is the major corridor of
trade between the South-East, South-South,
South-West and North-Central zones. At the
time the bridge was conceived, Nigeria was
mainly an agrarian economy. Thus, the bridge
served as the avenue for transporting different
agricultural products – palm produce, timber,
rubber, etc. Prior to the construction of the
bridge, these commodities were ferried across
the River Niger between Onitsha and Asaba
using canoes.
Owing to rapid economic development and
population growth, pressure began to mount
on the bridge, especially during festive
periods. The bridge has been overstretched
beyond its capacity. There is apprehension that
the bridge might collapse with catastrophic
consequences to lives and property. To
forestall such disaster, the idea of a Second
Niger Bridge was conceived.
The Second Niger Bridge was on the drawing
board for many decades. Successive
administrations in the country paid lip service
to its construction. It was President Goodluck
Jonathan that flagged off the construction of
the bridge and actual work started. To that
extent, it is wrong to accuse Jonathan of lying
to Ndigbo about the bridge. Jonathan thought
that he would win a second term during which
he could complete the bridge. But he lost the
election. The history of the bridge cannot be
written without mentioning him.
The truth is that work has commenced on the
Second Niger Bridge and is progressing. The
project, which is divided into three phases, will
bypass Onitsha and Asaba to connect the
Owerri-Onitsha Expressway at Nkwerre-
Ezunaka, and then cross Atani to the Asaba-
Benin Expressway at Okpanam with a total
length of 44 kilometres. With this length, the
Second Niger Bridge will surpass the world’s
longest bridge in China (42.4km), to become
the world’s longest bridge!
The project is being constructed under a Public
Private Partnership (PPP) scheme. A
Consortium JB-NSIA, is working on the project
on the basis of Design, Build, Finance, Operate
and Transfer (DBFOT), at a total cost of N108
billion. The Bureau of Public Procurement
(BPP) reviewed the concessionaire’s cost of
N138 billion down to N108 billion. The project
phases will be constructed under Engineering,
Procurement and Construction contracts
awarded by the Federal Ministry of Works
(FMW).
The Federal Government committed to
contribute N30 billion (28%) of the project
cost. The remaining 72% will be raised by the
Consortium under a 25-year concession. The
Federal Government has so far committed
N18.31billion. Out of this, N10.4 billion has
been disbursed leaving a balance of N7.94
billion. A team of local and international
consultants was engaged through a rigorous
and competitive procurement process. The
NSIA has spent the sum of $2.21 million on
consultancy and another $247,586 on due
diligence to determine project viability. The
first-class advisory services are required to
enable the project reach financial close – the
point at which private capital is successfully
raised.
Based on reliable information, work has not
stopped on the bridge. It could be said that
work has slowed down because of the rainy
season that naturally stalls engineering
construction work. Preliminary physical works
have been completed. By December 2015, the
final phase of the early works will be
completed. The Environmental and Social
Impact Assessment (ESIA) is being done to
meet the highest international standards to
make the project eligible for long-term
financing by local and international financial
institutions. The Infrastructure Concession
Regulatory Commission (ICRC) is reviewing the
Full Business Case (FBC) and Draft Concession
Agreement (CA). Once the ICRC approves the
FBC, the CA will be signed and the Consortium
will then raise the remainder of the project
capital.
President Buhari has stopped work on the
project. It is in the country’s interest to hold
onto this project because any review will
definitely raise the cost owing to the
depreciation of the naira. The cost of the
project was reached at the exchange of N154/$
. Now the naira exchanges at N197/$. I can
appreciate that Nigerians want to see a second
bridge across the River Niger. People should
calm down. The bridge project has a
development and completion time-frame four
years from financial close – point at which
private capital is successfully raised. This point
has not reached, meaning that count down for
the bridge is yet to start.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/09/the-second-niger-bridge-facts-and-figures/

An excerpt from the larger body of article published by the Guardian newspaper,during the heat of the Oshiohmole - Okonjo Iweala saga.
Posted to majorly counter the outright lies and fallacies contained in the thread: https://www.nairaland.com/2602228/truth-second-niger-bridge-chibuzo-n/3

Like I said in my previous post GEJ is a scam who has scamming and sold the future of the SE people to private business men. Imagine using our own tax payers money to build a white elephant phantom bridge which will be tolled for 25 years. PMB should scrap the entire contract and create avenue for new bid devoured of private public partnership scam!!

sammyj:
Like I said in my previous post GEJ is a scam who has scamming and sold the future of the SE people to private business men. Imagine using our own tax payers money to build a white elephant phantom bridge which will be tolled for 25 years. PMB should scrap the entire contract and create avenue for new bid devoured of private public partnership scam!!

Is it that you cannot read or you have comprehension problem?.Though seemingly on the high side,cost of which I will like brought down,the FG share of the cost is 28% of #108b which is #30b.
And who told you the bridge is a "white elephant phantom" project?.In that wise,the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project should be termed the same,as this bridge makes even more economic sense and serves more purpose.
The tolling,I don't agree with neither do I agree with it being concessioned.The FG should build the bridge,same way it's constructing the Expressway

Why Charge My SE brothers for a Federal Bridge...
When Benue Bridge I dey pass am reach 20times a day (Wurukum To Northbank)

But why are Nigerians full of hate and lies?
I saw this post about the bridge and couldn't help but laugh

This is the malicious post
https://www.nairaland.com/2602228/truth-second-niger-bridge-chibuzo-n

Second niger bridge 44km? The 42km bridge in china passed over an ocean not on a 1.7km wide river... Somebody is 419ing us all.

What is even there to review sef...just cancel the present contract and re-award it... The new contractor should be mandated to deliver the less than 2km bridge in 18 months and the cost should not exceed 50 billion shikena

Thank you for coming out with the truth.