By FAVOUR NNABUGWU
ABUJA—Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen, has said the 2nd Niger Bridge was being delayed  by the procurement process deployed to ensure a good job was done.

Onolememe, who spoke while playing host to Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State in Abuja, explained that the procurement process started in December 2011, adding that because of the special procurement being followed in the execution of the project, the take off had been delayed.

He said:  “From December last year, the procurement process kicked off and because it is a special procurement process and not just a normal procurement, it is a little bit different from that because it is a hybrid between the proper Public Private Partnership PPP, and the usual contract procurement

”because of interest of the Federal Government, it is taking up 30 percent equity participation while the successful concessionaire will take the remaining 70 percent.

“I want to assure you that within the next two to three weeks, the transaction adviser for that particular project will be announced and kick start the final stage of the procurement process.

“But we are upbeat that between the last quarter of this year and the first quarter of next year, the breaking of ground for that project will happen.

The Minister stressed that the successful concessionaire will move to site because President Goodluck Jonathan assured the people of the South East during electioneering period that he will deliver the project to them during the first term of his administration.

“I want to assure the people of the South South and South East that we are very committed to that project and we will hopefully deliver on that project,” he added.

“I recalled, that shortly after I took over office, you consistently pursued the issue of the ravaging gully erosion in Onitsha between km 0 and the bridge head up to Upper Iweka, of the city where I had the privilege of inspecting that particular devastation as it were then with you one or two occasion and because of your persistent the federal government  quickly intervene in that particular sorry situation and I’m happy to report that today that particular has been completely recovered by the FG.”

In his response, Governor Obi expressed his appreciation and satisfaction to the Minister for the visible presence of the Federal Ministry of Works in Anambra State.

“But there is something that I have come to also request and discuss with the Minister in that they need to accelerate the rate of works especially with the impending rains, like the Enugu Onitsha road as a case in point which needs some form of acceleration.

”For example within the capital city of territory of Awka there are also some rehabilitation works that needs to be carried out there. He added that of serious concern to the people of south east is the all important  2nd Niger bridge project which the President to undertake if elected into office,” the governor said.