ANAMBRA, Nigeria — The First Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State, will be reopened to motorists next week following the completion of major rehabilitation works on the structure, Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has said.
Umahi made the disclosure on Wednesday during an inspection of the ongoing rehabilitation of the bridge, which has been closed to traffic for nearly three weeks.
According to News Express, the maintenance work, initially scheduled for completion last week, was extended by another week following more than a week of sustained rainfall, which slowed the pace of construction.
The minister said the rehabilitation had covered several critical components of the bridge, including the replacement of expansion joints, bolts and other structural elements, as well as sections of the asphalt carriageway and walkways.
The project also includes the installation of closed-circuit television cameras and streetlights, while the kerbs and metal components of the bridge will be repainted.
Umahi said the bridge would initially reopen with only one carriageway, while the second carriageway would be opened after 21 days to allow further work to be completed.
He said the ministry would also remove illegal advertisements on the bridge and regulate future advertising activities.
“For now, the bridge will be decorated with the pictures of President Tinubu,” Umahi said, crediting the President with supporting projects in the South-East.
He added: “The President has worked so hard and we need to reward his hard work by decorating this bridge with his pictures.”
The minister also urged supporters of Peter Obi, the former Anambra State governor and presidential candidate, to identify projects they believe the former governor had attracted to the South-East.
Umahi said the people of the region should support the Tinubu administration in the 2027 election, arguing that the President had continued to execute projects in the South-East despite the region’s voting pattern in the 2023 presidential election.
“I want to say to Ndigbo that we should not throw away our votes in 2027. In the last election, we did not vote for him so well, yet he is bringing projects to our region,” he said.
He added that while Obi remained “our brother,” he expected his supporters to provide evidence of projects attracted to the region by the former Anambra governor.
“I have a bragging right in Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and I’m proud of him and will be willing to show anyone who wants to know all that he has done,” Umahi said.
The minister also directed that security agencies be advised against establishing checkpoints within 200 metres of the bridge, saying such checkpoints could cause traffic congestion and put additional pressure on the structure.
He further said the ministries would engage the Anambra and Delta State governments over activities at scrap markets around the bridge, warning that indiscriminate handling of scrap materials could contribute to the vandalisation of public infrastructure.
Umahi also announced a ban on dredging activities around the bridge, saying such activities could compromise its structural integrity.
He expressed satisfaction with the quality of work carried out so far, saying the rehabilitation would improve the bridge’s durability and safety.
“The bolts that were lost have been replaced, expansion joints have been manufactured and flown in by air and replaced. The company has done beautiful work,” he said.
However, the minister said the government would not be pressured into reopening the bridge before the necessary structural works were completed.
“We will, however, not be stampeded into opening the bridge until the full structural works have been done,” he said.
Umahi thanked motorists and residents for their patience during the closure, as well as the Anambra and Delta State governments for their cooperation.
