ICRC: No Plan to Stop Second Niger Bridge

The Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has expressed concern over the recent media reports that the federal government has stopped work on the second Niger Bridge.

According to the commission, the report that the second Niger Bridge project was being put “on hold,” “stalled,” or is being “probed” or even “suspended” was false.

Acting Head, Communications, ICRC, Deborah Chinwe Okafor, in a statement yesterday, emphasised that the agency would like to see the Niger Bridge completed to alleviate the plight travellers face on that route especially during festivities.

She explained that the media report then had emanated from a press briefing by its Director General, Mr. Aminu Diko, on August 26, 2015, following a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari.

Diko, had briefed the president on the status of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects in the commission over which it performed regulatory oversight. As expected the second Niger Bridge was one of the projects mentioned, amongst others.

“The commission wishes to thank the media for giving it the opportunity to highlight the main thrust of its discussion with the President. However, the slant the story on the 2nd Niger Bridge was given by the media is a bit worrisome to the commission and it wishes to clarify the position,” the statement added.

According to her, Diko had emphasised that the federal government knows that the project was critical, adding that “we also know how Nigerians suffer during festive holidays and we hear people sleep on that old bridge. The time has come to bring succour to Nigerians.”

“The Director General, however, said as a PPP, the project must pass through various checks to satisfy the federal government and investors alike on viability affordability, and also to ensure people get value for money. He then affirmed the commission had expressed concerns about project cost vis-à-vis projected toll fees and engagement of community stakeholders whose land would be affected along the bridge’s right of way, amongst others.

“ICRC wishes to state that these regulatory issues predate the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Indeed, the immediate past Chairman of the commission’s Governing Board, Senator Ken Nnamani, was emphatic that as important as the 2nd Niger Bridge is, it must be procured in strict compliance with the ICRC Act and the National Policy on PPP. To this end, the commission assures Nigerians that it is working with the Federal Ministry of Works to resolve these issues as quickly as possible.”