BRIDGE IN TROUBLED WATERS
Construction on the Niger Bridge has been delayed due to social and economic issues, but the project's economic importance means that the government is working to resolve these issues and build what will be one of Nigeria's most important thoroughfares.
When the first Niger Bridge was constructed in 1965, it was a key moment for Nigeria's economic development. The project linked Southeast Nigeria with Western Nigeria, becoming a key economic and cultural thoroughfare and contributing to a more unified country. Conscious of the need for an additional route over the River Niger, the Nigerian government seeks to construct a Second Niger Bridge. This new bridge, approved in March 2014 and expected to be completed by 2020, will be approximately 11.9km long and have a six-lane dual carriageway, a significant improvement over the current two-lane bridge. However, the project has been beset by construction, social, and political issues. Resolving these conflicts will be key to building a better bridge and a better country.
Former President Goodluck Jonathan approved the Second Niger Bridge project in March 2014. At the time, the bridge was expected to be completed by March 2018 and cost NGN117 billion. A concession was signed with JB-NSIA consortium for the design, finance, and construction of the project. The bridge's importance as a major transit artery for agricultural and industrial products has necessitated the construction of two complementary bypasses to ease the flow of traffic. The bypasses will connect the bridge to nearby interchanges and highways, linking it to key transport and population centers.
Soon after construction began, however, a number of issues began to emerge. First and foremost among them were the nation's larger financial issues. Nigeria depends on oil revenue for a majority of its government funding, and falling oil prices began to severely impact the nation's financial position at around the time the project was announced. This put the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NISA) in an unstable position and rendered it unable to contribute to the project as originally intended. As a result, the government was forced to seek alternative funding sources, a search that is still ongoing. Officials are optimistic about finding additional funding, noting that several foreign investors have expressed interest in the project due to its well-structured nature and significance for Africa's largest economy.
There have also been accusations of mismanagement and cost overruns. Preliminary consultancy and project viability work has been lengthy and expensive and reports emerged in September 2015 that NGN140 billion in state funds intended for the bridge were missing from the sovereign wealth fund, though the Nigerian government refuted them. According to government figures, NISA has reportedly spent over NGN440 million on international consultancy projects but the project has still not received all the necessary regulatory permits to attain private capital and proceed with construction. The delay has frustrated the communities affected by the project, though the importance of the bridge gives all sides an incentive to see it constructed well.
Construction has also had to deal with social and cultural issues that have at times thrown the future of the project into question. The Niger Bridge's importance makes it a frequent site for protests. Some of these protests have turned violent, including one incident where military forces killed 150 activists who were blocking the bridge. The site's location at the intersection of several key populations makes it a politically charged area, which at times threatens to erode foreign investors' confidence in the long-term security of the bridge. There is also additional concern that poor relations with the communities located by the site of the second Niger Bridge could lead to delays. The issues of land rights, environmental impact, and concern over economic benefits have already flared up at times, and it will be essential for foreign investors to form strong communication ties with these nearby communities to minimize delays.
Despite these issues, there is reason to be optimistic for the future of the second Niger Bridge. All parties involved recognize the importance of the bridge for Nigeria's economic health, so there is strong incentive to get the deal done.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Focus: Yes Program
Providing The Tools
Unemployment is a big problem is Nigeria. The federal government has set a target of creating 3.5 million jobs for these people within the next three years through the federal government's Youth Entrepreneurship Support Program (YeS program) and the N-power Program.
read articleInterview
Oscar N. Onyema, OON, CEO, Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)
TBY talks to Oscar N. Onyema, OON, CEO of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), on creating the second-largest platform in Africa, the advantages for indigenous companies to list, and how to institutionalize the fight against corruption.
read articleInterview
Chief Tunde J. Afolabi, Chairman & CEO, Amni International Petroleum Development Company Limited
TBY talks to Chief Tunde J. Afolabi, Chairman & CEO of Amni International Petroleum Development Company Limited, on reaping the most from low oil prices, the impact of new regulatory measures, and the challenges of deep-water exploration.
read articleInterview
Guido D’Aloisio, Managing Director, Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited
TBY talks to Guido D'Aloisio, Managing Director of Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited, on the importance of Nigerian operations to the company as a whole and the significance of its joint venture with Dangote.
read articleInterview
Aisha Abubakar, Minister, State for Industry, Trade & Investment
TBY talks to Hon. Aisha Abubakar, Minister of State for Industry, Trade & Investment, on tackling challenges in the manufacturing sector, boosting industrialization, and its work on promoting education for girls.
read articleInterview
Innocent O. Ezuma, Executive Chairman , Eta-Zuma Group (W/A) Limited
TBY talks to Innocent O. Ezuma, Executive Chairman of Eta-Zuma Group (W/A) Limited, on its projects to reduce the country's energy deficit, diversifying into mining, and the opportunities in the steel sector.
read articleInterview
Umar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC)
TBY talks toUmar Garba Danbatta, Executive Vice Chairman & CEO of Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), on boosting local broadband penetration, its commitment to regulatory excellence, and cooperating with regional operators.
read articleInterview
Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Minister, Transportation
TBY talks to Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation, on the investments being made in fortifying and developing transport infrastructure, the role Nigeria's transport sector will play in ECOWAS, and the ministry's wider ambitions for its legacy.
read articleInterview
Alaba-Foluso Abayomi, CEO, Richmond Marine & Offshore Logistics Limited
TBY talks to Alaba-Foluso Abayomi, CEO of Richmond Marine & Offshore Logistics Limited, on expanding outward from Lagos and Port Harcourt, the role new legislation can play, and the need for partners beyond the oil and gas industry.
read articleInterview
Capt. Muhtar Shaibu Usman, Director General , Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA)
TBY talks to Capt. Muhtar Shaibu Usman, Director General of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), on the steps being taken to raise standards and the opportunities those steps yield for investors.
read articleFocus: Niger Bridge
Bridge In Troubled Waters
Construction on the Niger Bridge has been delayed due to social and economic issues, but the project's economic importance means that the government is working to resolve these issues and build what will be one of Nigeria's most important thoroughfares.
read articleInterview
Vinay B. Mahtani, GMD & CEO , Churchgate
TBY talks to Vinay B. Mahtani, GMD & CEO of Churchgate, on the status of the WTC luxury residential and commercial towers, challenges facing investors, the potential held by the capital city, and where that will lead Churchgate in 2017.
read articleInterview
Paul M. Gbededo, Managing Director, Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN)
TBY talks to Paul M. Gbededo, Managing Director of Flour Mills of Nigeria (FMN), on the steps being taken in various fields to support the government's diversification ambitions and to provide Nigeria with its food needs.
read articleInterview
Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre
TBY talks to Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, Managing Director of Nordica Fertility Centre, on the challenges facing the industry and what its center is doing to educate people, raise standards, and ultimately make Nigeria the region's medical tourism destination.
read articleInterview
Dr. Olasimbo Davidson, VP Clinical Administration & Operations, The Olive Multi-Specialist Hospitals
TBY talks to Dr. Olasimbo Davidson, VP Clinical Administration & Operations of The Olive Multi-Specialist Hospitals, on the gaps in healthcare provision, strategies to effectively plug them, and the role education will have to play in the future.
read articleInterview
Abiola Monehin, Managing Director, Bulwark Vault and Safes Deposits
TBY talks to Abiola Monehin, Managing Director of Bulwark Vault and Safes Deposits, on changing attitudes to financial safety and security, the lack of insurance in the market, and the role financial savvy can play in empowering Nigerian women.
read article