In the southwest of Niamey, the capital of Niger, there is a bridge that runs from north to south, crossing the Niger River and the Cha River, and connecting the Embassy Road with the N4 and N6 highways on the south bank, forming a beautiful landscape in the slightly desolate city. The bridge is located about 7 kilometers west of the Niger Second Bridge, with a total length of 3.60 kilometers (the main bridge is 928 meters long), echoing the Second Bridge in the east, and together forming a large loop connecting the north and south banks of Niamey. It is the third bridge in Niger, a microcosm of China’s aid projects in Niger, and an important symbol of China-Niger friendship.
In 2018, with the support of the International Economic Cooperation Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce and the Chinese Embassy in Niger, the construction technical team of China Harbour Engineering Co., Ltd., which undertook the construction of the project, made a detailed plan for the target and responsibility system with a high degree of organizational ability and strong guarantee measures. The project rationally allocated equipment resources, optimized the construction process, effectively responded to the complex underwater construction environment of the Niger River, and successfully solved technical problems such as the construction of exposed bedrock riverbed pile foundations. At the same time, the project department stayed at the front line of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, overcame the once-in-a-century flood disaster, and finally completed the construction task of the third bridge project in Niger safely and efficiently.
During the construction process of the project, special attention was paid to fulfilling social responsibilities and actively giving back to the society. During the construction of the project, the construction technical team was committed to fulfilling the social responsibilities of Chinese-funded enterprises. The project purchased cement, sand, gravel and auxiliary materials locally, and leased some construction machinery and equipment, bringing a total economic benefit of more than 200 million yuan to the local area. During the peak period of project construction, more than 1,500 local workers were employed, providing a total of about 3,800 jobs for the local area, significantly improving the income level of local employees. The project department also organized condolences to sick local employees and donations to surrounding primary schools and villages many times, deepening the friendship and understanding between the peoples of China and Nigeria.