Lai: Work to start on 2nd Niger Bridge soon

Lai Mohammed, minister of information and culture, says work on the second Niger Bridge will commence soon.

According to a statement issued by Segun Adeyemi, special adviser to the minister, Mohammed said this at a town-hall meeting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, on Monday.

The minister said the federal government had commenced the creation of jobs across the country in fulfillment of its campaign promises.

“As contractors are mobilised back to the various road construction projects across the country, construction and ancillary workers are returning to work in droves,” he said

Mohammed listed some of the road construction projects that have now resumed as including Lagos-Ibadan expressway, Bode Sadu-Jebba road, Abuja-Lokoja road, Kano-Maiduguri road and the Loko and Oweto bridge linking Nasarawa to Benue.

He said “work would soon start on the 2nd Niger Bridge”, which he added “is in this year’s budget”.

“As more and more road construction works resume in the days ahead, thousands of Nigerians will also be returning to work,” he said.

“The federal government is exploring the agricultural sector for massive job creation through the re-positioning of the River Basin Development Authorities.

“Still talking about jobs, an agreement has been signed to re-position the River Basin Development Authorities within the next 18-24 months. The agreement between the River Basin Development Authorities and the Songhai Farms of Benin Republic includes the training of unemployed youths in integrated farm practice.

“This programme is complimentary to the upcoming Youth Agriculture Empowerment Programme being planned by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.”

The minister said the Buhari administration was on track in redeeming its promises to Nigerian, particularly in the three broad campaign areas: tackling insecurity, fighting corruption and revamping the ‎economy.