Nigerian President Jonathan makes History today by kickstarting a landmark 2nd Niger Bridge project

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Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan made History today at the commercial town of Onitsha, Anambra State, as he did the groundbreaking of the Second Niger Bridge linking the eastern part of the country with the South-South geo-political zone. This came almost 49 years after the commissioning of the first Niger Bridge by former President Nnamdi Azikiwe in 1965, Jonathan promised that the landmark project being executed by Julius Berger would be completed in four years at a total cost of over N117 billion. The guests at the ceremony included host Governor Peter Obi, Ebonyi State Governor Martin Elechi and Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan; Minister of Finance and the Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala; the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen; the Obi of Onitsha Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe. However, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu and his Imo State counterpart, Rochas Okorocha, were absent at the ceremony. 

President Jonathan said: "The first Niger Bridge was commissioned by President Nnamdi Azikiwe and the second will be built by the second Azikiwe. The second bridge is being built almost 49 years after the first. This will alleviate the congestion on the first Niger Bridge, especially during festive period. The bridge will improve road traffic between the South Eastern part of the country and the rest of the country." Jonathan remarked that he was only out to fulfill his electioneering promise way back in 2007 when as a vice presidential candidate, he came visiting Anambra on a campaign stump and promised to build the bridge. Jonathan noted that the bridge is key to economic transformation of the country, adding that when completed, would improve commercial activities in the South-East and the South western part of the country.