State House, Freetown, Wednesday 14 November 2018 – His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio has commissioned the four-way Lumley-Juba bridge construction and also launched the rehabilitation of the Limkokwing-Regent road project as part of the government’s Presidential Initiative on Infrastructure.
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The curved bridge linking the two expanding communities, west of the capital Freetown, is a 2.4 million dollars project with 1.5 million as support from the Chinese government and the remaining funds will be provided by the government of Sierra Leone.
During the ceremony at the Lumley Community, the President said that the gesture was in line with his government’s commitment to purposeful and well- planned projects, adding that his infrastructural development moves were not about money-making or gaining political capital but were about improving the lives of every Sierra Leonean.
President Bio also said that because of his credible approach to achieving development, international development partners now viewed the country favourably and as a destination for investment.
He said the bridge was a necessity that would reduce the perpetual traffic between Lumley and Juba, emphasising that the project would not add any debt burden on the country. He assured that his government was ready to provide effective monitoring or work and would ensure that the project was completed in good time.
“Like I promised during my campaigns, my government is all about delivering on purposeful and well informed infrastructural development. This project is of importance because it will not only ease the problem of traffic congestion but it will also unlock the tremendous potentials of the city and will make Lumley and its beyond accessible to people. This bridge will be built to meet international standard and will not bring any burden on our country,” he said.
At the Limkokwing-Regent worksite, President Bio expressed his appreciation to the Chinese government for their support to the country. He said whenever he promised he’d always tried to deliver on them. He stated that the people of Regent deserved a decent road, paved and well-constructed. He maintained that his government would continue to embark on infrastructural development the country could afford and developments that were transparent and inclusive.
On both occasions, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sierra Leone, H.E WU Peng, said that his government was committed to the development process in the country. He said the two countries continued to enjoy a relationship that was mutually beneficial. He noted that both projects were results of a collaboration between the governments of China and Sierra Leone, adding that roads projects would help to reduce the traffic congestion within the city.
Ambassador WU again disclosed that he was pleased with the President’s commitment to delivering on the ambitions of Sierra Leoneans, especially by improving the road networks across the country. He disclosed that China had agreed to extend her relationship with Sierra Leone for the benefit of the two countries.
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