Headlines

Nigeria: 2nd Niger Bridge Engineering Work Completed, to Be Unveiled October

Published

3 years ago

April 4, 2022

By Derrick Bangura

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) has disclosed that the ongoing construction of the Second Niger bridge is at 91 per cent complete.
However, the total infrastructure of the Second Niger Bridge, which includes road, bridge and interchange and others is presently at 84 per cent completion.
The completion date, the Authority reiterated would be October this year.

The Managing Director, NSIA, Mr. Uche Orji, who disclosed this to THISDAY on Sunday, confirmed that out of the total project cost of about N206 billion, only N157 billion had been spent on the infrastructure, which is central to the south-eastern Nigeria and the nation as a whole.
“The total project cost is estimated at N206 billion. So far, about N157 billion has been expended on the project. It doesn’t mean that the outstanding sums won’t be utilised. This is just the expenditure to date.
“As it stands, the entire stretch of infrastructure i.e. road, bridge and interchange etc is about 84 per cent done at this point while the bridge alone is over 91 per cent done,” he said.

According to Orji, while in terms of percentage, the major works have been done, the finishing works are quite extensive and would take a few months, stretching into October this year.
On the funding structure of the project, Orji, noted that the Second Niger Bridge was one of the three projects being funded from the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund.
The other two projects, according to him, are the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road project and the Lagos-Ibadan express road project.

Orji explained that, “The PIDF is a special fund set up by PMB and managed by the NSIA. The NSIA brought in some of its own capital alongside the capital provided by FG and the capital from returned loot from Sani Abacha.

“So, when you said PPP, it is the NSIA and the partnership of the federal government and NSIA is the one coordinating the fund from investors.
“So, as it stands now, it is purely the NSIA and the federal government that is the face of the project today.
“The NSIA is an investment institution owned by all three tiers of government including the states and local governments, the federal government and the federal capital territory which make up the shareholders of the NSIA.

“In terms of other people that will invest in the project, they will come under the NSIA’s fundraiser activities.”
Speaking on the compensation for Nigerians, whose lands were affected by the project, Orji said a significant portion of the compensation has been settled by the government.
He said more assessment was still being made with a view to compensating those that would still be affected as the project progresses.

“Regarding compensation, this is an ongoing affair, we had paid significant sums earlier. However, there are still some more compensations to be made. We expect to close these as we continue to work.

“As you can see, the bridge itself is 11.9 kilometers, there still remains 17 kilometers of road on this side and the Asaba end of the road that will be paid for.
“Assessment is still being made for compensation. What I can assure you is that the directive we have from the President and from the Minister and our Board is that adequate compensation is to be paid to everyone who is affected,” he noted.

Headlines

Benue IDPs block highway, demand return to ancestral homes

Published

6 hours ago

July 30, 2025

Matthew Eloyi

Vehicular movement along the Yelwata axis of the Benue–Nasarawa highway was brought to a standstill on Wednesday as Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, staged a protest, demanding immediate return to their ancestral homes.

The protesters, believed to be victims of persistent attacks by suspected herdsmen, blocked both lanes of the busy highway for several hours, chanting “We want to go back home”.

The protest caused disruption, leaving hundreds of motorists and passengers stranded.

Eyewitnesses said the displaced persons, many of whom have spent years in overcrowded IDP camps, are expressing deep frustration over the government’s delay in restoring security to their communities.

“We have suffered enough. We want to return to our homes and farms,” one of the protesters told reporters at the scene.

Security personnel were reportedly deployed to monitor the situation and prevent any escalation, though tensions remained high as of press time.

Efforts to reach the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, and other relevant authorities for comment were unsuccessful.

Headlines

NNPCL reveals decision not to sell Port Harcourt refinery

Published

6 hours ago

July 30, 2025

Matthew Eloyi

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL has officially decided not to sell the Port Harcourt Refining Company.

NNPCL has, instead said it is committed to conducting an extensive rehabilitation of the facility and ensuring its continued operation.

During a company-wide town hall meeting held at the NNPC Towers in Abuja, Bayo Ojulari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, announced the decision regarding the future of the nation’s most significant state-owned refining asset, putting an end to weeks of speculation.

A statement by NNPCL reads, “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has officially ruled out the sale of the Port Harcourt Refining Company, reaffirming its commitment to completing high-grade rehabilitation and retention of the plant.

“The ongoing review indicates that the earlier decision to operate the Port Harcourt refinery, before full completion of its rehabilitation, was ill-informed and subcommercial.

”Although progress is being made on all three, the emerging outlook calls for more advanced technical partnerships to complete and high-grade the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery.

”Thus, selling is highly unlikely as it would lead to further value erosion.”

Headlines

Tinubu appoints Olumode Adeyemi as Federal Fire Service boss

Published

6 hours ago

July 30, 2025

Matthew Eloyi

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Adeyemi Olumode, as the new Federal Fire Service, FFS, Controller-General.

The appointment was announced on Wednesday on behalf of the Federal Government by retired Maj.-Gen Abdulmalik Jubril, Secretary of the Civil, Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board, CDCFIB.

Jubril said the appointment followed the retirement of the current Controller-General, Abdulganiyu Jaji, on August 13.

Jaji is retiring upon attaining the age of 60 by August 13.

Jibril further disclosed said that Adeyemi Olumode is qualified for the position, having attended and passed all mandatory in-service training, Command courses as well as other courses within and outside the country.

“He brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having transferred his service from the FCT Fire Service to the Federal Fire Service and grown to the rank of DCG in the Human Resource Directorate of the Service Headquarters.

“He has served in various capacities and is equally a member/fellow of the following professional associations including Association of National Accountants of Nigeria, ANAN, Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria, Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria and Chartered Institute of Treasury Management of Nigeria.”