FACT CHECK: Bashir Ahmad lied on who is constructing Second Niger Bridge

President Muhammadu Buhari’s aide on Digital Communications, Ahmad Bashir had claimed that his principal is the one constructing the second Niger Bridge in Anambra State.

However, findings have shown that Ahmad is wrong.

1. The Bridge is not Being Constructed by the federal government. It’s a PPP Project which the federal contributes a tiny fraction.
2.The 2nd Niger Bridge was to Cost about N160 billion but was reviewed by the Buhari administration and increased to 400billion.
400billion for a 1.6km bridge? Lol.
3. Started in 2012, project was launched in 2014 and should have been completed in 2017, but worked stopped for 31 months by buhari administration in 2015, & completion date was moved to 2019 but still wasn’t completed until covid happened in 2020, so completion was moved to 2022.
4. Federal government share of the Cost is 20%. Jonathan through the Sure-P paid N21.2billion including N7billion for the completion of preparatory work (Phase 1).
5. 38% of the work was done as at Jan 2015, 1year after the launch.
6 Buhari’s Govt Paid N2billion when he came to power and paid another N3.05Billion when 2018 budget was approved.
7 Work under Buhari began in 2017 at the site and about 12% was completed before covid bringing the total completed work to about 50%
8. Jonathan Govt have paid 71% of federal government share of the cost, While Buhari’s govt is to pay 29%.
9. Anambra and Delta state government paid a fraction of 20% for the project.
10. Julius Berger, the Major Contractor and Construction company will put Toll Gate on Completion of the Bridge to cover their cost.
11. The Construction Company is Funding 60% of the Project and the People using the Bridge will bear the cost via Toll Charges.
The real People building the Bride are Nigerians that will use the Bridge, as they will repay the cost to Julius Berger