The Kogi State Governor, Capt Idris Wada, has said that the state government is committed to the execution of the N49bn Confluence Bridge project.
The Confluence Bridge cuts across Rivers Niger and Benue in the state and it is expected to link Ganaja in Ajaokuta Local Government Area to Shintakun in Basa Local Government Area of the state.
The project is expected to last for 36 months and will commence in October this year, while modalities for the commencement of the project had reportedly reached an advanced stage.
The project would be executed under a Public Private Partnership arrangement.
The Kogi State government is to support Walcott Nigeria Limited, the company handling the project.
Some financial institutions will provide financing support for the execution of the project.
Wada spoke when the Managing Director, Walcott Nigeria, Mr. Christopher Esiah, with his delegation visited the governor on Monday.
Wada, who led the team to inspect the project site, also said the bridge would open up the development of the state.
He added that it would help in developing Lokoja as a modern state capital as well as boost the socio-economic activities of the city.
The governor said, “I will leave no stone unturned to ensure that the project is completed in 36 months projected by the company. The project, if completed, would enable the state to become the industrial giant of the North Central Zone of the country as it will attract more investors to the state.”
Esiah said the company was delighted to partner with Wada’s administration for the execution of the bridge.
Meanwhile, Wada has appealed to the Federal Government to refund to the state government the sum of N14bn it spent on the rehabilitation of some federal roads in the state.
He spoke in Kabba in Kabba-Bunu Local Government of the state during a ceremony marking the commencement of the rehabilitation of Kabba -Egbe- Ilorin Road.
The governor lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for approving the rehabilitation of the road and assured of adequate security for the contractor’s employees and other workers.
“We have spent N14bn for the rehabilitation of federal roads in the state. A request for refund has been submitted to the Ministry of Work for approval. We know that other states have also submitted similar requests but we need it urgently for other infrastructure,” Wada said
The Minister of work, Mike Onolememen, said the rehabilitation of the road was a testimony to the Federal Government’s commitment to make all roads in the country passable.
He added that the Federal Government was concerned with the plight of road travellers and was committed to reducing accidents and the plights of the road users.
He promised that the ministry would ensure that the contractor adhered strictly to specifications.
The minister appealed to the residents to support the contractor for timely completion of the project.
