Construction giants - Julius Berger and China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) - are among 39 companies that have indicated their desire to build the Fourth Mainland Bridge in Lagos.

Among the other firms interested in handling the job are Kyeryong Construction Company; Pythgoras Holdings; CRCCCI Nigeria; China State Construction and Engineering Corporation Nigeria Limited; Bua International Limited and China Jiangxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation Company Limited.

The over 30-kilometre bridge, will, when completed link Eti-Osa Local Government Area and Ikorodu.

The Lagos State Government had advertised for expression of interest on the bridge construction some weeks ago but opened the bid on Wednesday in Ikeja, Lagos.

Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Works and Infrastructure, Aramide Adeyoye, said the bid opening was the first of the six stages before a winner would be selected.

Describing the process as very transparent, Adeyoye explained that since the state government did not have the fund for the project, it placed it under the Public-Private Partnership(PPP) arrangement.

Government, according to her, was encouraged by the number of companies that bid for the project.

The Special Adviser said the next step, which is the evaluation stage, would begin today, adding, that the companies that qualified for the next stage would be contacted.

Managing Director, Advanced Engineering Consultants, Dr. Peter Agunbiade, who recalled that the journey to construct the bridge began many years ago, also gave assurance that the government would ensure transparency in executing the bid.

Permanent Secretary, Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Olujimi Hutonu, said the journey started on November 28, 2019 when the advert for expression of interest was placed, adding that three weeks later, the expression of interest had been opened and made public.

© Pakistan Press International, source Asianet-Pakistan