Former Minsiter of works, Mike Onolememen, has debunked claims by Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomole that the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, spent N140 billion on consultancy for the construction of the Second Niger Bridge.
Speaking via a statement issued on Thursday, August 27, 2015 by his media, Mr. Tony Ikpasaja, Onolememen described Oshiomole’s claims as “wild and spurious”, telling the governor to apologize for misleading Nigerians.
He availed that the Second Niger Bridge was a Public Private Partnership project being executed on the Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer model at the cost of N108 billion, adding that only N10 billion out of the refundable N30 billion was paid through the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme.
The statement reads: “The Federal Government of Nigeria, guided by the Transaction Adviser, Roughton International, agreed to provide a refundable Catalytic Funding of N30bn. By May 2015, N10bn Catalytic Funding was paid from the Federal Ministry of Works’ SURE-P Budget to fast-track the early and sub-structural works of the bridge. This implies that the successful concessionaire, JB-NSIA Consortium, has responsibility for the design, finance and construction of the project, as well as its operation.
“The total project cost is N108bn (excluding duties and Value Added Tax) with a completion period of about 48 months. This cost was arrived at, after BPP’s (Bureau of Public Procurement) review of the concessionaire’s submitted cost of N138bn.”
“The bridge located at about 2km downstream the existing Niger Bridge in Onitsha, has recorded impressive progress. One wonders therefore, the intentions of Governor Adams Oshiomhole in deliberately misinforming Nigerians on the true status of the 2nd Niger Bridge.
“As a senior public officer in the rank of a governor, it is expected that the comrade governor would have cross-checked his facts before jumping to make such wild and spurious allegations. Otherwise, Governor Oshiomhole should tender unreserved apology to Nigerians for misleading the public on this project.”
