The Federal Government has set aside N2 billion to compensate those dislodged on the Right of Way (RoW) of the Second Niger Bridge.

The Nation reports that cash is under the main contract stage of the bridge which has just commenced.

Beneficiaries are those whose properties and livelihoods will be affected by the project.

Those affected in the early stage of the project got N441 million as compensation. They were those affected by the “early works contract 1234” awarded during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

It was gathered that the “early works” stage of the bridge is barely visible because the major work involves sinking of the pillars in the river and surface clearing to make way for the access roads.

Already, 96 per cent of the “early works” had been completed and a source involved in the implementation of the Second Niger Bridge (2NB) said over 90 per centof the “early works” was completed under the Goodluck Jonathan administration, but the Buhari-led government has kept faith and provided funding to complete the “early works” stage.

The Buhari administration, the source revealed, has, besides releasing funds to complete the “early works”, made budgetary provisions for starting the “main works”.

According to the source, “compensation to be paid for ‘main works’ is N1.578 billion but the Federal Ministry of Works is still valuing properties, such as high rises and factories and taking inventory before commencing compensation for the “main works”.

•Excerpted from The Nation report