TheCable

The federal government has awarded Julius Berger Construction Company a N206 billion contract for the main work on the 2nd Niger Bridge.

Babatunde Fashola, minister of power, works and housing, made the disclosure during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday.

According to him, the project expected to be completed in 36 months, would be funded under the presidential infrastructure development fund (PIDF).

He said since the project falls under the PIDF, work will no longer stop on account of lack of funding.

Fashola said that the Lagos-Ibadan expressway and Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road projects would also be funded under PIDF.

The minister said Julius Berger was awarded the contract after the completion of the initial four phases of the project, “with observable progress”.

Speaking on the factor that caused delay in the project, Fashola said the rainy season had increased the depth of the river well above 15 meters, making it hard for the contractor to continue work.

“During peak raining season it slows down their work because really you need divers to go under this is what it takes to build a bridge. So at the height of that raining season when there was flooding, work will slow down,” he said.

“As the raining season ends you will see more activities there. Construction is not subject only to money, materials, and transportation it is also subject to weather.”