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The federal executive council, yesterday, cancelled
the N58billion second Niger Bridge project which was awarded in 2007 by
the federal government.

It further approved that the ministry of works should
engage a reputable project consultant and commence a new procurement
process for an award of contract for the project, on a fast-track
basis, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Procurement Act
(2007) and ICRC Act. While briefing pressmen after the 18th session of
FEC, which was chaired by President Goodluck Jonathan, and lasted for
about three hours with only two memos discussed, information minister,
Dora Aknyili, and her minister of state, Labaran Maku, said the
decision was reached following a memo submitted by the minister of
works, which showed that the three-year-old contract has still not been
executed.

“Following a memo by the minister of works, Council
was made to understand that the present Niger Bridge, located at
Onitsha/Asaba in Anambra/Delta States, was constructed about 45 years
ago as a major interconnecting link between eastern and the western
parts of the country,” she said. “Council had at its meeting of 6th
May, 2007 approved the award of a contract on PPP concession
arrangement for a period of 30 years for the second Niger Bridge to be
constructed within 36 months, in the sum of N58.6 billion. The equity
participation for the project was 60 per cent private, and 40 per cent
public, of which the federal government’s equity was 20 per cent, and
10 per cent each for Anambra and Delta State Governments. For several
reasons, the project could not be executed.”

Explaining the nature of the proposed bridge, Mrs.
Akunyili said the project is a six-lane dual carriage-way,
approximately 1.76 km wide, with 2.5m shoulders on each side and 4.0m
median width. “The project also includes a 14km long approach road with
3 river bridges and other ancillary works” she added. The sum of N7.5
billion has however been provided for the project in the 2010
Appropriation Act.

Security operations in the east

The council also received briefing from the minister
of police affairs, Ibrahim Lame, on security report on the South East
operation, code named operation “IHE.” The operation commenced
simultaneously as planned across the south eastern states of Anambra,
Abia, Imo and Enugu of 6th June 2010, the minister said.

He noted that all mobile units deployed for the
operation were confirmed to have arrived and deployed to specific
locations after receiving brief on the general conduct of the
operations. In all, 13 units of police mobile force were deployed to
Abia; six to Imo; four to Enugu and 13 to Anambra.

The minister reported that the attack on designated
targets, which began on 7th have been successful as “all areas and
indeed the entire states were comprehensively covered, entry and exit
points properly policed and local police formations duly fortified.”

Massive raids, the minister also reported, have continued with
attendant clamp down on criminal activities across the region. Arrests
are being made and it is hoped that information derived from the
suspects so far arrested will lead to further arrests. The present
status of most of the targets raided indicate that criminals may have
hurriedly abandoned their hideouts. The president, at the end of the
briefing, demanded that the operations against kidnappers be sustained.