FG, Julius Berger seek new ways to construct Lokoja-Shintaku Bridge

From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja

As part of measures to bridge the gap in road infrastructure funding, Federal Government, yesterday, devised an alternative means with Julius Berger plc to finance the construction of Lokoja-Shintaku Bridge in Kogi State.

This was part of the decision reached during the meeting the Minister of Works, Senator Nweze David Umahi held with the representative of Julius Berger Plc and Business Development Strategist, Filipe Nuno Lopes, and the development partners – Deutsche Bank represented by the Director, Structured Trade & Export Finance Middle East & Africa, Humaya Harati. and the bank’s Chief Country Representative Nigeria, Andreas Voss in Abuja

The minister said that the step was part of the measures of the ministry in bridging the gap in road infrastructure funding. He expressed hope that with the immense financing capacity, relationships and lengthy records of the firm in arranging financing for projects in the African continent, the project target will be accomplished.

He emphasized the need for the timeline for the procurement process to be streamlined so that construction of the project can start and be completed on a record time. He described the discussion as a credible path to the eventual financing of the project.

In his speech, the representative of Julius Berger Plc and team lead, Mr. Filipe, assured that with the certificate of no objection issued by the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to the single source procurement of the bridge from Julius Berger Plc, the Lokoja- Shintaku project would be moved forward.
“The meeting was successful as it advanced discussions around project development and potential funding options” he said.