The lies about how Julius Berger sacrificed himself to the water spirits so that he could be able to build Eko Bridge or sometimes, River Niger, as the story is told, has been flying around since I was a little boy.
It was the first story my cousin told me 24 years ago when he first took me to Warri through the River Niger bridge.
Both old and young people still tell and believe this intriguing STORY to this day. A story they now refer to as proof of the existence of marine spirits.
A story that has become the foundation of all kinds of water rituals and very funny but pathetic stories.
The first River Niger Bridge was constructed between 1964 to 1965 by a French company called Dumez, not Julius Berger.
Julius Berger was born in 1862 and he died in a concentration camp with his wife in 1943. That is 21 years before the construction of the River Niger started.
Julius Berger Construction company was revived after World War II and in 1965, the company got its first job in Nigeria. The building of Eko Bridge.
One would wonder, how then did this man who died 21 years before his company got to Nigeria sacrifice himself to Eko and River Niger marine spirits.
This superstitious belief and many others like it have cost so many innocent lives and yet, most unfortunately, it will cost many more, because we are made up of a greater number of people who cannot think for themselves. A shame!
There is a construction company in Germany called Bilfinger Berger but I am bot sure,if they have,any connection with Julius Berger. As at early 90’s Julius Berger had a corporate base in Wiesbaden and if I recall they were operating only in NIGERIA and were about to get a foothold in Saudi Arabia and Australia.Wiesbaden is the US airforce medical base in Europe. Here too is where you have the,Aukam Hospital /hotel where the cream of Nigerian leaders went for treatment in the,80`s, many with terminal illnesses, died there. JB was,the main facilitator with air ambulances, nurses etc to ferry these guys. I recall reading latest publications of Nigerian dailies like,Daily Times, New Nigerian and LAGOS,Weekend along with West Africa magazine there. I understand JB extended these favours.
Julius Berger was the founder of the eponymous International Construction firm.
He was a German-Jew who started out in the Transport business and later established Julius Berger Civil Engineering AG in 1905.
It became a major contractor carrying out the construction of roads, drainage systems and railways in the eastern Prussian provinces and also in Turkey, Iran, Romania and Egypt.
In 1942 he and his wife were thrown in a Concentration camp where they died of hunger and exhaustion.
The company was revived after World War II. In 1965 it secured its first job in Nigeria- The construction of Eko Bridge.
It has since become one of Nigeria’s leading construction companies securing major projects such as Tin Can Island Port, Ajaokuta Steel Plant,The 3rd Mainland Bridge, Abuja Stadium and Abuja International Airport.
It is currently one of Nigeria’s largest private employers with 18,000 staff.
