President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated the construction of Phase 2B of the access road to the Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha, a project aimed at enhancing transport infrastructure and regional connectivity in the South East.

Represented by Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo at the event on Tuesday, Tinubu noted that while the Second Niger Bridge, inaugurated in 2023, has eased travel, its full benefits have been hindered by incomplete access roads.

The newly launched Phase 2B will bridge this gap with a 17.5km dual carriageway featuring seven bridges and modern infrastructure, including security cameras for enhanced safety. The road will extend from the Umunya/Ogbunike axis of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, passing through Ogidi, Nkpor-Umuoji Road Interchange, and Asaba-Igbuzor Road Interchange, before ending at Valley Bridge.

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, commended Governor Soludo’s leadership in road infrastructure and noted that Anambra currently has 18 ongoing federal road projects, including the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. He assured that project payments would be tied to work progress, with 30% of the contract sum already disbursed, urging local communities to support the project and avoid disruptions.

Reaffirming Tinubu’s commitment to the South East, Umahi highlighted key appointments, including the Chief of Naval Staff and Minister of Works, as proof of the administration’s dedication to the region.

The project contractor, CGC Nigeria Limited, represented by General Manager Gius Cheng, assured that the project would be completed on schedule while maintaining the highest quality standards.