By Jude Okenwa
President Bola Tinubu has flagged off the 2B access road to the second Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra state.
The N170 .7bn contract was awarded to CGC construction company, which has a mandate to complete the project in 2 1/2 years.
The project, according to observers, marks a significant step in enhancing transportation infrastructure and regional connectivity in the Southeast.
Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo represented the President at the groundbreaking ceremony, which was attended by Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, at Ogbunike (33 Nkwelle Junction) along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.
The Second Niger Bridge, inaugurated in 2023, has greatly improved travel between the Southeast and other parts of the country but its full benefits have been hindered by incomplete access roads.
The newly launched Phase 2B construction aims to address this by delivering a 17.5km dual carriageway with seven bridges and modern infrastructure, including security cameras.
The road will stretch from the Umunya/Ogbunike axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, passing through the Old Enugu Road Interchange, Ogidi, Nkpor-Umuoji Road Interchange, to the Asaba-Igbuzor Road Interchange and Valley Bridge.
Umahi hailed Soludo for his leadership and transformative achievements in multiple sectors in Anambra State in the last three years, especially on road infrastructure.
He said that Anambra has 18 ongoing federal road projects, including the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, which has been split between MTN and another company for effective execution.
Umahi further said that payments for the project would be tied to work progress, with 30 percent of the contract sum already disbursed.
He pleaded with communities along the routes to support the project and avoid disruptions.
He reiterated Tinubu’s commitment to the Southeast, citing key appointments such as the Chief of Naval Staff and the Minister of Works as proof of the administration’s dedication to the region.
Soludo said the Second Niger Bridge would remain incomplete until the entire 35km access road was fully constructed.
He thanked Tinubu while expressing optimism with Umahi as Minister of Works, the project would be completed as planned.
