Anichukwu stated that the direction was delivered by the minister during a joint inspection with the governor of several significant Federal Government (FG) projects in the state.
The collapsed New Artisan Bridge on the Enugu-Portharcourt Expressway has given China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) till October to complete repairs, according to a deadline set by Works Minister Dave Umahi.
The directive was given to newsmen in Enugu on Monday and was contained in a statement released by Mr. Uche Anichukwu, Governor Peter Mbah’s Senior Special Assistant on External Relations.
Anichukwu stated that the direction was delivered by the minister during a joint inspection with the governor of several significant Federal Government (FG) projects in the state.
“I have been here more than 10 times since the collapse of the bridge.
“The governor went to see Mr President, who directed immediate work on the bridge.
“This work is being done by CCECC. I must commend them very highly for the quality of work and speed.
“This is the speed that Enugu governor desires and he is also very happy with this.
“I am giving them October 2024 to deliver this project,” the statement quoted Umahi to have said.
It further stated that the minister said that due to the paucity of funds, FG would allow the Enugu State Government to complete the remaining part of the 61km-road, starting from Naira Triangle based on FG’s Highway Development Management Initiative.
This, the statement added, was purely on Public Private Partnership arrangement.
It further quoted the minister to have commended Mbah for his administration’s strategic efforts and partnership with President Bola Tinubu’s administration to ramp up infrastructure development in the state.
Anichukwu explained that Umahi affirmed his commitment to completing the remaining sections of the Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway as well as the dualisation of the Enugu-Abakaliki Road.
He also quoted Mbah as commending FG’s commitment in addressing the challenge of road infrastructure in the South-East.