NIGERIA ISSUES A TRAVEL ADVISORY TO ITS CITIZENS LIVING IN CHINA.

The Federal Government of Nigeria wishes to advise all Nigerian citizens living in China to avoid the ocean bridge linking Jiaxing to the north and Ningbo’s Cixi county in the south. Any Nigerian who uses the bridge and drowns in the Pacific Ocean has him or herself to blame.

The 36km-long Hangzhou Bay Bridge, the longest ocean-crossing bridge in the world, reportedly cost 1.42 billion dollars to build in 2007. That is 1.68 billion dollars in today’s money. The 1.59-kilometer Second River Niger Bridge at Onitsha to be built in three meters of water is to cost 2 billion dollars.
There are no earthquakes, typhoons, underwater gas eruptions, multi-directional currents, high waves, or big tides at Onitsha. These conditions exist at Hangzhou Bay. It is worth noting that the tide at Hangzhou Bay is one of the three biggest in the world and that earthquakes measuring up to 7 on the Richter scale are common in the area.

Nigeria has been planning the one-kilometer Second River Niger Bridge since 1970, a period of 47 years. The planning of the 36km-long Hangzhou Bay Bridge involving 700 experts from around the world and 120 technical studies took nine years. Ideally they should still be planning the 36km-long Hangzhou Bay Bridge. By Nigerian standards, the planning should take 1064 years given the length of the bridge. However, with the difficulty of the terrain, add another 436 years to make a total of 1,500 years of planning.

The Second River Niger Bridge is a six-lane, two-directional highway while the Hangzhou Bay Bridge is a six-lane, two-directional highway with a 100km/h speed limit, and a 100-year, service guaranteed, cable-stayed design. The lifespan of the Second River Niger Bridge is 50 years and any person driving over 80km/hr. is liable to public canning and a 12-month imprisonment without the option of a fine.

Finally, the Hangzhou Bay Bridge was completed in four years. Given that the resurfacing of the Lagos to Benin Expressway commenced by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 1999 as part of a 300 billion Naira project is still ongoing, the Second River Niger Bridge will take 100 years to complete. Every successive Nigerian Government after Obasanjo has budgeted for that stretch of highway with the cumulative cost exceeding one trillion Naira!

Given the above contrasts, it is obvious the Hangzhou Bay Bridge was hastily constructed without adequate planning and is bound to disappear under the waves at any moment without notice.

As a Government that cares deeply for its citizens, the Federal Government of Nigeria once again warns its citizens living in China to avoid that Hangzhou Bay Bridge.

Signed
Alhaji Lie Mohammed
Minister of Misinformation.

Hangzhou Bay Bridge, China – The Longest Ocean-Crossing Bridge in the World

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/247196-presidency-clarifies-amount-released-second-niger-bridge.html
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/06/fashola-cries-says-nass-padded-budget-scuttle-second-niger-bridge/
http://www.in2013dollars.com/2007-dollars-in-2017%20%20
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/01/2nd-river-niger-bridge-onitsha-toll-charges/