Work remains on course on the Second Niger Bridge, the Julius Berger-NSIA Motorways Investment Company (JB-NMIC) Consortium, preferred bidder for the development of the bridge, assured this evening.

News Express and some other papers had yesterday quoted Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, as saying that the Federal Government erred in commencing work on the bridge without consideration for the Environmental Impact Assessment Law (EIA) and that the project had consequently been suspended. “They did not comply with our ministry’s rule,” she told a Turkish delegation during a courtesy call on her on Friday. “The Minister of works had to run to me so that we might give them certificate to resume work.”

However, a statement signed on behalf of the JB-NMIC Consortium by Uche Orji, CEO, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), and Wolfgang Goetsch, MD Julius Berger, said:

“The Julius Berger-NSIA Motorways Investment Company (JB-NMIC) Consortium, preferred bidder for the development of the Second River Niger Bridge Project, wishes to clarify that reports suggesting that work on the bridge has been suspended due to non-compliance of environmental laws represent inaccurate and misconstrued information.

“Contrary to recent reports, work on the Second River Niger Bridge Project continues to progress according to schedule, to ensure timely completion of the Bridge, which is set to be executed under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement for a concessional period of 25 years through the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer (DBFOT) model.

“In fact, the nominated EPC contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, has commenced full mobilization to site and timely execution of all scheduled activities is anticipated.

“The Consortium also highlights that compliance with Nigerian Environmental Laws continue to be deemed a paramount priority and that Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is an intrinsic part of the project, which is carried out in compliance with the environmental laws that govern Nigeria and in collaboration with the relevant Ministries.”

•Photo shows a prototype of the Second Niger Bridge.