The second Niger Bridge

The idea of second Niger bridge was initiated because there were concerns on the status of the first bridge. There were fears that the bridge could collapse at any time owing to old age and continuous impact of human and vehicular activities.

The then President Goodluck Jonathan's government came up with the idea and it was approved.

The new bridge is seen as a very significant piece of infrastructure with its ripple effects on lives and businesses around the places it cuts across. For instance, there are hopes that the bridge, when fully constructed and made open for public use, will improve road safety and ease traffic flow. It is also hoped that the states it cuts across will have improved socio-economic activities.



The project being handled by Julius Berger construction company encompasses 1.6 kilometres of bridge, 10.3 kilometers of highway and 1 toll station.

The construction of the second Niger bridge is being financed through an agreement model known as Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer (DFBOT) of a Public Private Partnership between Nigeria's federal government represented by the ministry of works alongside Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority and Julius Berger. The project is estimated to cost $653 million. Of this amount, the federal government will contribute only $150 million.

According to the government, the base of the second Niger bridge is estimated to last at least 100 years. Please note stat the information didn't come from the construction company but one of the aides of President Buhari.



What 'Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer' (DFBOT) model is

The DFBOT is a new model used to undertake large projects. Its involves an agreement between the government and a private individual, most often, a company or group of companies or investors to fund a large project. After the construction, the project would be operated by the firm or investors for an agreed period, which usually spans years.

In most cases, the firm or firms collect tolls from where they'll recoup their funds. At the end of the agreed years, the project would be handed over to the government.

What this entails is that tolls (money) are likely to be collected from people who would use the bridge. This is substantiated by the inclusion of a toll station in the project.



So, now you know. Nigerians may pay for using the second Niger bridge whenever it is completed.

My opinion

Truth be told, the media space, both the new and traditional media, is inundated with all kinds of stories on the second Niger bridge. Of course the completion date has been set as February 2022 but there are fears that it may not be achieved.



There are stories everywhere on how the government is using looted funds to finance the project, the latest being the Abacha loot repatriated to the country from the US recently. The government listed the project as one of the projects to be financed by the recovered loot, still, there are stories that part the funds for the project has been provided for in the budget.

Taking our minds back, this bridge was used as a campaign bait by former president Goodluck Jonathan. President Muhammadu Buhari used it also for the 2015 elections campaign as well as the 2019 campaign.



It's more like a campaign tool now. Don't be surprised that it will still be used as a campaign tool by both APC and PDP for the 2023 elections.

Awesome...
What about Abacha loots?
I thought some amount of money from the last one was allocated for this project?

Nobody can use South Easterners to do business, rather they do the vice versa.

OreMI22:
Nigerians will still be forced to pay for the bridge after using Abacha's loot to build it.

It tells you how unforgiving the FG is on the people around the place where the bridge is sited.

The truth is that we are being distracted,

on Julius Berger website, it says there will be a toll station on the bridge,

We are almost behaving like Cynthia Morgan by not reading contracts well.

It's a public and private partisanship which means the private company has to recoup their %75 investment.

Lol this post should be consigned to the refuse bin.


Nothing in your prevaricating post remotely corroborates your sensational headline.

OreMI22:
Nigerians will still be forced to pay for the bridge after using Abacha's loot to build it.

It tells you how unforgiving the FG is on the people around the place where the bridge is sited.

They must not have anything free from the FG as other Nigerians normally would.

Read this comment of yours again and tell me if it is sensible.

DanseMacabre:
Lol this post should be consigned to the refuse bin.


Nothing in your prevaricating post remotely corroborates your sensational headline.

That there won't be Toll gate as Julius Berger stated on their website?

Or it's not a PPP project?

Which kind thread be this?

temptnow:


That there won't be Toll gate as Julius Berger stated on their website?

Or it's not a PPP project?

Your headline explicitly states that 'Igbos' will pay for the bridge via toll gates. Please enlighten me as to how this will be achieved. Maybe those collecting toll fees will ask for I.D before collecting.

DanseMacabre:


Your headline explicitly states that 'Igbos' will pay for the bridge via toll gates. Please enlighten me as to how this will be achieved. Maybe those collecting toll fees will ask for I.D before collecting.

So the Bridge is no longer for Igbos, it's now for Osun and Jigawa people any?

This model is the surest way to develop infrastructure in developing countries....I will rather pay extra 200 naira and drive on a clean road without potholes than waste hours and risk my life on bad roads.

The Federal government should as a matter of urgency declare emergency on infrastructure and use this model; if we keep waiting for Federal cash alone ....our roads will remain a death trap.

Even if the monies are not stolen but used as budgeted , the speed of development will still be slow because Nigeria does not have enough cash... By the time you now consider the amount to be stolen, you will agree with me that in the next 100yrs we are where we are.

temptnow:


So the Bridge is no longer for Igbos, it's now for Osun and Jigawa people any?

Why don't you use the time spent on being a third-rate Nairaland e-tribalist in instead seeking for gainful employment?

DanseMacabre:


Why don't you use the time spent on being a third-rate Nairaland e-tribalist in instead seeking for gainful employment?

Had it been you're gainfully employed you won't be on Nairaland 24/7 arguing with people about the obvious

temptnow:


Had it been you're gainfully employed you won't be on Nairaland 24/7 arguing with people about the obvious

temptnow:


So the Bridge is no longer for Igbos, it's now for Osun and Jigawa people any?

Ok... This is the thread u were talking about?

I read the thread n I didn't understand it. I am sorry if you feel offended.

I am igbo by the way

OreMI22:
Nigerians will still be forced to pay for the bridge after using Abacha's loot to build it.

It tells you how unforgiving the FG is on the people around the place where the bridge is sited.

They must not have anything free from the FG as other Nigerians normally would.

When will you guys stop playing this silly victim card?
Jonathan was in Aso rock for eight years and did not build the bridge. Still, your people voted massively for him and some are yet to stop crying till today that he lost.

The man that is building it is the one that is unforgiving on the people around the place where the bridge is sited. Why are you people so ungrateful like this?

seunmsg:


When will you guys stop playing this silly victim card?
Jonathan was in Aso rock for eight years and did not build the bridge. Still, your people voted massively for him and some are yet to stop crying till today that he lost.

The man that is building it is the one that is unforgiving on the people around the place where the bridge is sited. Why are you people so ungrateful like this?

Jonathan started it and jubrin wants to complete it to claim the glory

seunmsg:


When will you guys stop playing this silly victim card?
Jonathan was in Aso rock for eight years and did not build the bridge. Still, your people voted massively for him and some are yet to stop crying till today that he lost.

The man that is building it is the one that is unforgiving on the people around the place where the bridge is sited. Why are you people so ungrateful like this?

As Julius Berger said, there's going to be a Toll Station on the bridge. Which Igbos will have to pay for the Bridge, so how ungrateful are the igbos if they're going to pay for the bridge.

Is Buhari using he's fathers money to give us a gift? The last time I checked there's no toll station along Lagos- Ibadan expressway

The most important thing, you have the bridge constructed, let them complete the project...

we know, I thought lai said APC will make it toll free.

NnaEnh:
Awesome...
What about Abacha loots?
I thought some amount of money from the last one was allocated for this project?

Nobody can use South Easterners to do business, rather they do the vice versa.

omonnakoda is coming to defend Abacha.

cc lzaa

temptnow:


As Julius Berger said, there's going to be a Toll Station on the bridge. Which Igbos will have to pay for the Bridge, so how ungrateful are the igbos if they're going to pay for the bridge.

Is Buhari using he's fathers money to give us a gift? The last time I checked there's no toll station along Lagos- Ibadan expressway

Jonathan made arrangement for tolling the bridge after completion and not Buhari. It’s also important to note that if Buhari didn’t build the bridge, there would be nothing to toll. Be grateful.

No true Igbo man will use that fake Buhari bridge. A real Igbo man will never use a bridge constructed through PPP or PSP or SPS by a kunu zipping Fulani herdsman. Instead, all real Igbo men will use the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Niger Bridges constructed and commissioned by Goatluck Jonaddaft

seunmsg:



Jonathan made arrangement for tolling the bridge after completion and not Buhari. It’s also important to note that if Buhari didn’t build the bridge, there would be nothing to toll. Be grateful.

At the end of the day, there's still going to be a toll gate on the bridge. Since its a PPP project with $600+ million.

slivertongue:
we know, I thought lai said APC will make it toll free.

You're listening to Liar Mohamed?


How will the private firms collect their 75% stake