FG Approves Renovation Of 3rd Mainland Bridge For N18.874bn
President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet rose from their eight-hour session to approve a total of N18.874 billion for repair works at the 3rd Mainland Bridge in Lagos.
The contract was awarded to Borini Prono, an Italian construction firm which constructed the bridge.
Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, told State House reporters, shortly after the FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, that the renovation work was conceived in 2011 but that it was not captured in the budget.
He said the contract, which is expected to be completed within 27 months, has now been captured in the 2018 budget with a sub-head of “Bridge renovation and repair contracts”.
Fashola explained that the project would involve the replacement of 33 piles at the first phase with a total of 177piles, to be strengthened in all.
He also said expansion joints linking the bridge together would be assessed with a view to replacing the obsolete ones.
Meanwhile, as the rains set in, the Federal Government has captured 19 states for intervention in its national erosion control programme.
Ibrahim Jibril, Minister of State for Environment, also gave explanation on the remediation programme for oil pollution in the Niger Delta region, saying contractors would be mobilised to site latest August, 2018.
He said procurement processes have begun in earnest, adding that calls for submission of tenders had commenced and that, by July, this year all activities relating to the tenders would be concluded.
Jibril said oil majors in the country were expected to reciprocate government’s gesture by making available their contributions to the remediation programme.
Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transport, also noted that Council approved the setting up of a presidential committee to go on tour inspection of the East-West Road.
According to Amaechi, the tour of inspection is expected to assess the level of work done and identify areas where the Federal Government needs to plough in more funds.
