The First Niger Bridge, which was closed for maintenance three weeks ago, is expected to reopen to motorists next week. The maintenance work, initially scheduled to be completed within two weeks, was extended by one week following more than a week of sustained rainfall in the area.
Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, who inspected the ongoing work at the bridge after the initial deadline and the subsequent one-week extension, said the bridge would officially reopen to motorists next week. The announcement came as the Anambra State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Emma Anosike, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Works for the rehabilitation and maintenance work on the bridge.
Umahi said the Tinubu administration had done considerably well for the South-East, adding that the administration’s projects in the region should be highlighted. He said the bridge would be decorated with photographs of President Tinubu, while urging supporters of Peter Obi to identify projects the former Anambra governor had attracted to the South-East.
Umahi said: “Once we are done with work on this bridge, I want all the illegal adverts on this bridge removed. Anyone who wants to advertise should apply to the Ministry of Works. For now, the bridge will be decorated with the pictures of President Tinubu.
“The President has worked so hard and we need to reward his hard work by decorating this bridge with his pictures. 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.
“I have a bragging right in Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and I’m proud of him. I will be willing to show anyone who wants to know all that he has done. Peter Obi is our brother and we do not hate him, but we need to be realistic this time. I don’t care about people abusing me on social media; they should only tell us what Obi has attracted to the South-East.”
The minister also said security agencies would be asked to remove checkpoints located about 200 metres from the bridge, which he said contribute to traffic congestion and could affect the bridge.
“We will be here next week to open the bridge, and I want to say that we will write to the security chiefs to tell them that there would not be need for any checkpoint 200 metres to this bridge because it causes traffic on the bridge, which is not good for its health,” he said.
Umahi further said the Federal Government would write to the governors of Anambra and Delta states to closely monitor scrap activities around the bridge to prevent vandalism of public infrastructure. He also banned dredging activities around the bridge, warning that such activities could compromise its structural integrity.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of the rehabilitation work, which includes the installation of CCTV cameras and streetlights, removal and reconstruction of asphalt on the carriageway and walkways, replacement of expansion joints and bolts, among other works. He said: “We thank the people for their patience. The bridge is not just healthier, but will last longer now and motorists will enjoy driving on it.
“We thank the governors of Anambra and Delta states for their commitment and support to the rehabilitation of the bridge. Anambra had to work with the Ministry of Works for the bypass, and we apologise for the inconveniences, but it was for their good.
“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. We will, however, not be stampeded to open the bridge until the full structural works have been done.”
According to Umahi, additional work will include painting the kerbs and repainting all metal elements on the bridge. He said the entrance and exit of the bridge would also be reconstructed with concrete.
“When we open the bridge next week, it will only be for one carriageway until after 21 days. Then we open it and work on the other side,” he said.
The Anambra State APC Chairman, Senator Emma Anosike, said the people of the state were grateful to President Tinubu for responding to the need for the rehabilitation and maintenance of the First Niger Bridge.
“We are grateful to President Bola Tinubu’s administration and to the Minister of Works, Senator Engr. Dave Umahi, for the good work being done at the bridge,” Anosike said. He added that keeping promises was one of the indices by which governments were measured and trusted. According to him, the people of Anambra had placed their trust in the Tinubu administration and were pleased with its intervention on the bridge.
He described the project as a boost for the APC in the South-East, particularly in Anambra State. The Controller of Works in Anambra State, Engr. Timothy Emenike, who conducted the minister around the project site, commended Umahi for his commitment, hard work, and energy, which he said had contributed to the progress of the rehabilitation work.
