Thread by @JohnFanimokun

My little knowledge about the birth of Second Niger Bridge.

The Second Niger Bridge project was first proposed during the 1978/79 political campaign by then-candidate Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN)

In 1987, after warning about the state of the existing River Niger Bridge by the then Minister for Works and Housing Abubakar Umar, General Ibrahim Babangida challenged the local engineers to design The Second Niger Bridge, rising to the challenge,

The Nigerian Society of Engineers called NSE Prems Limited, which subsequently delivered a masterplan. The addition of east–west railway line to the project, unfortunately the turmoil that precipitated the end of Babangida's administration stalled the plan.

Then came Olusegun Obasanjo, a former military head of state, as civilian President. He promised to build the bridge. It didn’t happen in eight years.

About five days before he left office, Obasanjo flagged off the project, to cost N58.6 billion, and handed it to his successor, Umaru Yar’Adua. No action in the three years that the administration lasted. Understandably so, for Yar’Adua was infirm.

Then Jonathan Government re-flagged off the project at the estimation of N130 billion. On January 2015, Former President Jonathan told Nigerians that the bridge has gulped N10bn so far.

But Ohanaeze Ndigbo Caretaker Committee told Buhari during after his victory in 2015, that President Jonathan lied to the Igbo nation about awarding contract for the construction of Second Niger bridge and major federal roads in the South East.

Julius Berger was awarded the contract of Second Niger Bridge in July 2018 by President Buhari with work commencing in September, 2018 with a projected contract period of 3 and a half years.

Part of the contract for the construction of the Second Niger Bridge also includes the construction of the Owerri Interchange & Toll Station.

"When the 1st bridge was built, it was during d presidency of Nnamdi Azikiwe; the second Niger bridge will be built under the presidency of Azikiwe Jonathan. I will go on exile on d completion of my term in office if I didn’t build the bridge by 2015″~ Jonathan
#WeWillNeverForget

"However, it was in Chuma Azikiwe’s house in 2004, during the burial of the former Minister of Justice, Chike Ofodile, that Buhari promised that if he became the Head of State, he would build the Second Niger Bridge and complete Zik’s Mausoleum."~ Chief Modestus Umenzekwe

We won't allow you lots to rewrite history!!!