Vice President Namadi Sambo on Wednesday said the Federal Government has approved the upgrade of work at the second Niger Bridge.
According to a statement by his spokesman, Umar Sani, the vice president made the disclosure while receiving a delegation of elders from Delta and Edo States at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The delegation made up of Ebu, Illah, Emu, Inyede and Igbedo, the host and immediate benefiting communities of the Utor River Bridge on the Asaba-Illah-Emu-Ahia-Uromi Road, were led by the Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen.
Sambo said the upgrade of work was approved by the government to facilitate an improvement of the economy of the people of the two states and the South-South region in general.
He added that President Goodluck Jonathan’s approval for the commencement of the work also includes the upgrade of the arteries and connections to the bridge.
He directed the Minister of Works to ascertain the actual areas that need to be dualised.
The vice president noted that the completion of the bridge will likely attract an increased flow of traffic.
To this end, he further directed that designs must be presented for the future dualisation of the road.
He said that the work is slated to commence by 2015.
“The Federal Government is also planning to provide railways in all these areas to make for a more effective transportation system”, he added.
