The Federal Government through the Ministry of Works has secured a €25m grant for construction of 28 priority bridges in Nigeria.
Jerrymusa.com reports that following a Friday discussion in Abuja with a group of Dutch investors under the direction of Oluremi Oliyide, the Nigerian ambassador to the Netherlands.
“The programme is a part of efforts to get more money to restructure the country’s economy.”
FG Strikes a Deal With Netherlands
In a statement endorsed by Orji Uchenna Orji, Special Advisor on Media, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, concluded negotiations with Dutch investors to secure funding for the building of important bridges in the nation.
According to him, the grant is contingent to the outcome of the last negotiations with Janson Bridging International, Netherlands, and the Ministry of Finance’s paperwork procedures.
The announcement said, “David Umahi, the Minister of Works, has concluded negotiations with Dutch investors in order to secure a grant.”
“begin the process, and we will ask Mr. President for his consent when we come to an agreement and choose the project.
According to the Nigerian Ambassador to the Netherlands, the delegation arrived to talk about Janson Bridging International’s grant offer for road infrastructure improvement in Nigeria.
“Janson Bridging is the largest bridge rental company in the world and the largest modular bridge manufacturing and bridging company in continental Europe,” he claims.
As soon as all formalities were finished, he committed to helping the company expedite the implementation of the agreement. International Business Consultant Eric Okunde, a team member, stated that the investors were technically equipped and ready to collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Works to develop the project’s design and mapping as well as the template for its implementation.
To rehabilitate the country’s ageing road infrastructure, the government said in the 2024 budget that it will spend N837 billion building and renovating 2,254 roads and bridges in the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years nationwide.
“The condition of the highways is still bad and requires additional funding even with this funding.
“Additionally, the Ministry of Works has said that in order to acquire funding for the construction of 35,000 km of federal road networks, concessionaires and other private sector groups are being contacted.”