Mr Babatunde Fashola, the Minister of Works and Housing, on Wednesday that the Second Niger Bridge will be tolled for proper maintenance.
He said the bridge would be tolled to ensure the maintenance of the project and to serve Nigerians for many years.
Fashola, who appeared on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Wednesday, listed some challenges facing the construction of the bridge to include relocation of transmission lines connecting the East to the West across the Niger River.
He said the delay in the completion of the project was due to the sit-at-home order by the Indigenous People of Biafra and promised that the target date was to deliver a perfect Second Niger Bridge in April or May 2023.
“Inevitably, the bridge will be tolled, but that is the job of the NSIA because we must make sure the bridge is properly maintained.
“So, this is where…private sector capacity becomes useful. That is the same model on the Lekki toll gate.
“Truth be told, the target is April or May, but the date keeps shifting because of sit-at-home directives.
“The current opening for motorists is for those going to the East and will last till the 1st of January. It is currently a one-way crossing.
“So, on the 2nd of January, we would reverse what we have done and allow people to use it from the 3rd for the East to West crossing and on the 15th we would shut it down so that we can finish the four kilometre access road,” he said. (GBN)
