The federal government, on Thursday, reopened the First Niger Bridge linking Asaba and Onitsha after extensive rehabilitation works.
The bridge was closed to traffic for emergency rehabilitation following the discovery of vandalised components, including bolts, nuts and portions of its expansion-joint steelwork.
The closure, initially scheduled to end on September 21, was extended by one week due to persistent rainfall affecting the rehabilitation work.
Speaking at the reopening of the bridge, David Umahi, Minister of Works, said the intervention reflected President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to maintaining critical infrastructure.
He said the rehabilitation was aimed at improving structural safety, strengthening security and restoring seamless vehicular movement between the South-South and South-East regions.
Mr Umahi said the rehabilitation became necessary following reports of structural concerns, including the alleged removal of bolts from the bridge’s steel components and inadequate maintenance.
He said the federal government had repaired the bridge, installed solar-powered streetlights and CCTV cameras, improved the road surface and introduced traffic management measures.
According to him, the intervention also included median barriers and three designated turnaround points to facilitate traffic management during emergencies and vehicle breakdowns.
The minister disclosed that security observation centres were being established at both ends of the bridge to enable continuous monitoring of activities on and beneath the structure.
He said those measures were necessary because of the bridge’s age and the need to protect it from excessive loading, congestion and other activities.
Mr Umahi also warned against indiscriminate sand dredging around the bridge, saying federal government regulations prohibited dredging within a 10-kilometre radius of federal bridges.
He expressed concern over alleged dredging activities close to the First Niger Bridge and directed officials in Delta and Anambra states to enforce the restriction order immediately.
The minister warned that disciplinary measures would be taken against officials who failed to address the situation.
On the Benin-Asaba Expressway, Mr Umahi said Mr Tinubu had directed a comprehensive redesign of the highway ahead of its reconstruction.
He disclosed that the Federal Government had cancelled an ongoing remedial contract covering the first 11 kilometres of the road due to dissatisfaction with the quality of work.
Mr Umahi also announced plans to reconstruct about 400 kilometres of the East-West Road, describing it as a spur of the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
He said the federal government remained committed to completing major road projects across the Niger Delta and South-East, including sections of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway and the Second Niger Bridge bypass.
According to him, the 17.5-kilometre Second Niger Bridge bypass, valued at about N172 billion, was already under construction.
The minister said the government would continue to prioritise infrastructure development, adding that road connectivity was essential to economic growth, regional integration and national development.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta commended Mr Tinubu for responding promptly to concerns over the bridge’s condition.
Mr Oborevwori, represented by the Commissioner for Works (rural roads) and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, said the intervention demonstrated the importance of sustainable maintenance of public infrastructure.
He said Mr Umahi’s three visits to the bridge within two months underscored the federal government’s attention to its rehabilitation.
“If this bridge is allowed to collapse, it will not just affect the movement of people between the South and the East; it will also affect the economies of both regions,” he said.
Mr Oborevwori said the rehabilitation went beyond improving the bridge’s physical appearance, adding that it would enhance commuter safety, facilitate trade and strengthen connections among communities.
“The fact that the bridge is wearing an entirely new look today is not just about beauty.
”It is also about the safety of those who commute across this bridge, linking communities, connecting cultures and making businesses thrive,” he said.
The governor expressed appreciation to Messrs Tinubu and Umahi for addressing public concerns about the bridge’s safety, describing the intervention as responsive governance.
Similarly, the Asagba of Asaba, Epiphany Azinge, described the rehabilitation as significant, saying it would strengthen the bridge and extend its useful life.
The traditional ruler commended Mr Tinubu and Mr Umahi for ensuring the completion of the rehabilitation works, saying the bridge was important to economic and social relations between Delta and Anambra.
“This may be the second most comprehensive intervention made so far on this bridge since its construction shortly before the Civil War,” Mr Azinge said.
(NAN)
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