Construction of Lungi Bridge to commence soon at $1.2 billion – says president Bio in state of nation address

 Rtd BrigadierJulius Maada delivered an address to MPs and the nation that will come to define his three years in power, and set the agenda for his ruling SLPP party’s bid for a second term in governance. It was an address in terms of his government’s performance and plans for the future.

The president was speaking at the State opening of the Fourth Session of the Fifth Parliament of the Second Republic of Sierra Leone in the Chamber of Parliament Building, in Freetown.

Doubters and critics of the government’s promise to build the much talked about Lungi Bridge, may not have to wait too long. “My Government has completed the pre-feasibility study of the Lungi Bridge and the cable-stayed design concept has been reviewed to reduce the total cost of the bridge to $1.2 Billion. A developer to finance the bridge construction has also been identified and once ratified by Parliament, work will start,” was the message from the president.

This is a massive reduction in the projected cost of the Lungi Bridge from the ridiculous early forecast of $3 Billion set last year.

On the economy which many analysts say has become the government’s Achilles heel that is likely to cost it the 2023 elections, if significant effort is not made to address the rising youth unemployment, rising cost of basic food items such as rice, and the perennial problem of electricity blackouts across the country, president Bio said: “The Bank of Sierra Leone’s astute monetary policy reduced inflation to single digits for the first time in six years, stabilised the exchange rate of the Leone against regional and major world currencies, and significantly increased international reserves to unprecedented levels”.

Although consumer price index which the president refers to above, has come down to single digit (about 8%), what is evidently clear is that real inflation – cost of everyday basic essentials like rice, cooking oil, bread and meat continues to rise. And the average Sierra Leone is feeling the pinch.

On youth unemployment, president Bio sounded less convincing that after three years his government is implementing sustainable job creation programmes. He said: “My Government constructed and fitted 70 fishing boats with outboard engines, navigation equipment, and accessories at a total cost of Le5.5 Billion Leones to support youth employment and empowerment in the seven coastal districts and communities.

“To support youth livelihood skills, my Government has constructed ten carwash centres in the Western Area. A further 28 carwash centres are being constructed nationwide. This initiative will create thousands of jobs for young people.”

On electricity supply, the president said: “My Government sees vigorous energy sector reform as critical to economic growth, health, and social well-being. More households are now connected to the grid than in 2018. We have increased electricity generation and transmission capacity over the last year. We will augment generation capacity with 87 Megawatts of confirmed investment in the sector and we will soon commission a 6 Megawatt solar park in Newton.

“Electricity supply has been restored to Lunsar. Communities are to be electrified along the CLSG/West Africa Power Pool’s 225kV transmission network including Zimmi and Potoru in the south; Kangama Gorahun and Njaiama Nimikoro to the east; and Masingbi, Bumbuna, Matotoka, Kamalo, Kamakwie, Binkolo, and Fadugu to the north.

“We now generate sufficient electricity in Freetown. But we inherited a defective and decadent transmission and distribution system that is incapable of evacuating and transmitting the power that is generated. This is made worse by the deliberate vandalisation by ill-motivated citizens of transformers and installed equipment. Therefore, let me state that citizens who are engaged in such vandalisation activities will face the full force of the law.

“With support from the World Bank, my Government is currently addressing the perennial problem of load-shedding and massive inefficiencies in power evacuation and distribution in Freetown by expanding or upgrading the 33 kV / 11 kV grid in Freetown. Distribution transformers and lines are also being installed in 33 unserved communities. A vendor supply process for electricity meters means that meters are now easily available. In collaboration with partners, we have commissioned 50 rural mini-grids and 4 smaller pilot systems in 54 chiefdoms with 8,000 household connections in beneficiary communities, and another 44 mini-grids are being developed in 44 chiefdoms”.