FG to review cost of 2nd Niger Bridge

The Federal Government is to review the Second Niger Bridge contract to ascertain the exact cost of the project. The construction of the Second Niger Bridge, a Public Private Partnership arrangement, was awarded to Julius Berger at the cost of N130 billion to complement the ageing River Niger Bridge. Aminu Dikko, director-general, Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), told journalists on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, that the commission had asked the ministry of works to review and justify the cost of the project, as the project was not likely to be completed soon. So far, N10 billion has been spent and, out of it, N1.5 billion was used for paying for damages and others, he had said at the time. Legacy concessions inherited by the commission were also discussed. These include the Lagos International Trade Fair complex, the Tafawa Balewa Square and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. There is also a proposal to build three deep sea ports for the country with a combined estimated cost of about $6 billion.