Thread by @toluogunlesi

Second Niger Bridge Progress Report:

One of the current tasks for the Engineers is the diversion of Atani Creek. This photo, taken last week, shows the ongoing work for the Creek diversion.

For those expecting a Bridge to magically rise overnight, take a small chill pill lmao

Demolitions and Bush Clearing (Dec 2018 Photos)

Recall my tweet from a few days ago on Minister Fashola’s comments about land compensation claims amounting to between 3 and 5 billion Naira.

No be small project. JB says it’s now at 16% completion.

Scheduled completion: 2022

Dredger don land Asaba Side.

Keep in mind there are multiple work sites for the construction: Onitsha and Asaba ends.And then there’s a Construction Yard in Onitsha where stuff like precasting (concrete) and fabrication are going on.

Flooding delayed Asaba-end work for a bit.

And of course part of the work also includes building the site quarters and offices for the construction company. Here’s the JB Clinic, now completed. They’re gon be here till 2022, remember...

Obi of Onitsha visited the Second Niger Bridge site last week, along with a delegation from the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority @nsia_nigeria - which is managing the Presidential Infrastructure Devpt Fund funding the Project.

Will share photos tomorrow. Stay tuned.

Let’s close this thread for today with a thought-provoking statement (or two) from Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State.

[The people with the real Common Sense wisdom don’t have to label it Common Sense. If it’s labelled or advertised as ‘Common Sense’, it’s likely to be fake].

So, @nsia_nigeria visited the Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, last week, and led him and his Chiefs to the site of the Second Niger Bridge. Also on the visit, Julius Berger, project contractors. (Recall that NSIA in Q3 2018 paid US$90m to JB, for the Project)

The public cynicism is understandable. This tweet from 2015 (by then Senator @bukolasaraki) captures it perfectly: After all the campaign promises and boasts, little or nothing was done re 2NB in all those years. In spite of the biggest oil boom in recent Nigerian history.

But times have changed. There is a genuine commitment to the completion of that Bridge, more than 50 years after 1st one was built

The Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF), will mobilize public & private sector capital for this and others. $650m already in the bag

The Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe, and his Council of Chiefs at the Second Niger Bridge Project Office and Site on Wednesday December 5, 2018. They were led on the tour by the MD/CEO of @nsia_nigeria (funders of the project), Uche Orji, & a Julius Berger Team

Workers onsite at the Second Niger Bridge. 5th December 2018.

Metalwork and concrete casting etc ongoing at the Main Yard in Onitsha

870 personnel currently onsite, across all the sites/Yards.

📷: @nsia_nigeria

Obi of Onitsha, His Majesty Nnaemeka Alfred Achebe & his Council of Chiefs last week at the 2nd Niger Bridge in Onitsha. The 11.9km Bridge Project is scheduled for completion in Q1 2022, & is now being funded by the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund (PIDF) est in 2018