Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. Sierra Leone’s Chief Minister, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, has announced the construction of 17 new bridges under President Julius Maada Bio’s administration between 2018 and 2024, touting them as key infrastructure achievements that enhance connectivity and service delivery.
In a social media post, Chief Minister Sengeh highlighted the transformative impact of the completed bridges, which include the Sengbe Pieh Bridge (Atlantic – Juba Bridge), Sewa Bridge, Waanje Bridge, Moa Bridge, Mapui Bridge, Maseniaa Bridge and Makemu Bridge.
Others are Masau Bridge, PC Adikali Modu II (formerly Rogbere) Bridge, Kobolo-Gulama (formerly Mabang) Bridge, Kpangbama Bridge, Moyamaba Bridge, Largor Bridge, Gorma Bridge, Jujioma Bridge and Morgovie Bridge.
Sengeh emphasized that these projects demonstrate the government’s commitment to “radical inclusion” and rural development, with more bridges still under construction. He concluded his statement with “#WeAreDelivering” and noted that “There are more ongoing.”
However, the absence of the Lungi Bridge from this extensive list has drawn attention, given its history as a key campaign promise by President Bio during his 2018 presidential election bid. The proposed bridge, intended to significantly shorten travel time between Freetown and Lungi, home to the Freetown International Airport, has been a subject of much discussion and anticipation.
President Bio had previously assured Sierra Leoneans of his commitment to building the Lungi Bridge, even stating in September 2023, “I know I still owe you the Lungi Bridge, I have said it and I will do it.” This assurance came despite earlier acknowledgments in January 2022 of struggles to mobilize private capital for the large-scale project.
Adding to the complexity, in December 2023, the government announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with China Road and Bridge Corporation and the Atépa Group for the construction of the Freetown-Lungi Bridge, with an estimated cost of $1.5 billion. At the time, the government projected construction to commence in the last quarter of 2024, with a three-year completion timeline. This followed earlier reports in October 2023 of alleged secret negotiations for a $1.5 billion loan from the Chinese government for the project.
However, a contrasting revelation emerged in August 2024 when Presidential Spokesperson Alhaji Alpha Kanu disclosed that the Lungi Bridge construction was “not part of President Julius Maada Bio’s current agenda.”
Kanu cited financial impracticality due to minimal traffic between Lungi and Freetown, making a $2 billion investment difficult to justify. He stated that while negotiations with investors were ongoing for alternative terms, the bridge was no longer a priority, with the government shifting focus to “Big 5 Game Changers.”
Residents of Lungi and opposition figures have expressed frustration, accusing the government of abandoning a critical infrastructure project. Ferry services remain unreliable, and travel between Freetown and the airport remains costly and time-consuming.
The exclusion of the Lungi Bridge from the Chief Minister’s latest list of completed projects, coupled with the conflicting statements regarding its status, leaves the future of this highly anticipated infrastructure project uncertain, even as the government celebrates other achievements in bridge construction.
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