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The Federal Government has announced a one-week closure of the First Niger Bridge to allow for emergency repairs and the installation of security infrastructure following the vandalism of critical components of the bridge.
Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, disclosed this on Friday during an inspection of the bridge and ongoing federal road projects in Anambra State and other parts of the South-East and South-South.
Umahi said traffic would be diverted to the Second Niger Bridge throughout the period of the closure to enable contractors carry out the repairs without disruption.
He explained that suspected vandals had removed vital bolts and iron components from the bridge, compromising its structural integrity and posing a serious danger to motorists and other users.
According to the minister, the repair work will include the complete removal and replacement of the bridge's asphalt surface, while solar-powered streetlights and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras will also be installed to improve security.
He said the CCTV system would be linked to the surveillance network already operating at the Second Niger Bridge to enable security agencies monitor activities and promptly apprehend anyone attempting to vandalise the facility.
Umahi described the vandalism as an act of "man's inhumanity to man," warning that tampering with critical bridge infrastructure could lead to catastrophic consequences.
He also noted that years of repeated asphalt overlays had increased the load on the ageing bridge, creating persistent traffic congestion and making comprehensive rehabilitation necessary.
The minister further directed contractors handling the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway reconstruction to prioritise repairs on failed sections and carry out much of the work at night to minimise traffic disruptions.
He said drainage channels along the highway would also be desilted before major construction begins, with traffic management agencies deployed to ease vehicular movement.
On the Second Niger Bridge access road project, project engineers assured the minister that work was progressing simultaneously from multiple sections to meet the completion deadline.
They disclosed that additional work areas had been opened around Obosi, Mkpor, Ogidi and Ogbunike, with excavation already underway to extend construction.
Anambra State Commissioner for Works, Arc. Okey Ezeobi, assured the Federal Government that the state would provide the required right of way for the project, including an additional five-kilometre stretch to accelerate construction.
Ezeobi commended President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Works for expanding transport infrastructure in the South-East, saying the improved road network would enhance connectivity, reduce travel time and boost economic activities across the region.
