Nigerian government approves bridge contract

24 October 2011

The federal government of Nigeria has approved the contract for a bridge to be built over the River Benue.

Costing 36 billion naira (£142 million), construction of the bridge will take two years to complete, eventually linking Loko in Nasarawa State and Oweto in Benue.

Nigeria's information minister Labaran Maku said that the completed crossing will help reduce the heavy traffic on the Abuja Lokoja road, as well as reducing journey times from Abuja to Enugu by two hours.

The road will serve as a strategic link between the north-central, south-east and south-south zones. The approval of the contract comes at the same time as a purchase of two A30 sea boats for the Nigeria Customs Service at a cost of 270 million naira.

Japan recently invested £14.82 million in a bridge building project to improve transport infrastructure between Tanzania and Rwanda. The project, which has been named the Rusumo bridge, will take two years to construct.