Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari says the Nigerian leader will commission the Second Niger Bridge in October.
Mr Gambari stated this on Tuesday when he led a delegation of the federal government to inspect the level of work on the 1.6 kilometer bridge which will be tolled.
Speaking on the funds released for the project being developed through a public private partnership (PPP) involving construction giant, Julius Berger, the Chief of Staff said the past administration released a paltry sum while his principal is funding it to completion.
“The bridge will be linked by the first or second week of April and commissioning will be in October,” he said. “First of all, it is not true that the money committed to the project can be linked to the previous administration.
“Only about N10 billion was available and if you know that a total of N400 billion has been committed to the project by this administration, you will understand that that amount is a far cry from N400 billion.
“The N10 billion was used for engineering drawings, compensation and other ancillary activities.
“Anybody who has any doubt that President Buhari has love for the people of the Southeast, let them come to this bridge so that they can see the impact it is already making and will continue to make when it is commissioned.”
Mr Gambari was accompanied by the Minister of Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola (SAN), Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr Chris Ngige and other dignitaries.
