By Austin Ogwuda
THE construction of bypasses linking the Second Niger Bridge from both Anambra and Delta ends has suffered another set back as the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has jettisoned the initial design, requesting for a redesign.
Although Minister Umuahi said the redesigning of the lingering bypass is expected to save N300 billion into the Federal government coffers, tongues are wagging if it is a ploy to continue with the foot dragging tactics.
Umuahi dropped the hint about the redesign during an inspection visit to the rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt Dual Carriageway section IV (Aba-Port Harcourt) handled by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd (CCECC) last Sunday.
Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media, Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji, Umuahi said the Federal government was committed to building everlasting road infrastructure with the most effective design at the lowest possible cost.
He said “just only two days back, with these leaders (South East), we went to Asaba, Delta State to look at the design of the bypass of the Second Niger Bridge, and we went to Onitsha.
And by that singular movement, we saw that the design was defective and we agreed on a new kind of design. That was how we saved the country over N300 billion by that singular movement to that location”.
Recall that on December 3, 2023, the Federal government took delivery of the Second Niger bridge from Julius Berger seven months after it was commissioned by former President Muhammadu Buhari shortly before leaving office.
And on the 25th of January this year Umuahi was reported saying, “I want to thank Mr President, who about three days ago, approved that work should immediately commence in many sections of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road.
“We were having some problems with funding but the president has solved the problem and directed for immediate release of funds so that the roads construction will continue. The same thing with the Lagos-Ibadan highway and the Second Niger bridge bypasses”, Umuahi told Nigerians.
Meanwhile several persons displaced or would be affected by the construction of the two bypasses are worried over continued delay in the completion of the project while lamenting that they were yet to be paid compensation.
They have staged several protests in the past to no avail.
With the redesign approach, observers are asking for how long will the lingering construction of the two bypasses see the light of the day.