First Niger Bridge To Reopen Next Week As Umahi Orders Final Safety Works

The Federal Government has announced plans to reopen the First Niger Bridge to traffic next week following the completion of major rehabilitation works on the critical link between Anambra and Delta states.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, gave the assurance on Wednesday after inspecting ongoing rehabilitation works at the Onitsha Bridge Head.

The bridge was shut earlier in September after vandals removed critical structural components, including bolts, nuts and sections of the expansion-joint steelwork.

Its reopening, initially scheduled for September 21, was postponed by one week following persistent rainfall that disrupted rehabilitation activities.

Umahi said the contractor, SKECC, had made substantial progress on the repairs, including replacing and securing the vandalised bolts.

He disclosed that the specialised expansion joint removed by the vandals had also been manufactured and transported into the country for installation.

The minister, however, stressed that the bridge would not be reopened until all critical structural works had been completed and safety requirements satisfied.

“We are not going to be stampeded to open the bridge until the major structural work has been achieved,” Umahi said.

As part of the final phase of the rehabilitation, the minister directed the contractor to repaint the bridge’s structural components, caps and internal carriageway sections.

He also ordered the removal of illegal advertisements from the bridge and directed the installation of additional solar-powered streetlights.

Umahi further ordered the completion of CCTV cameras on the bridge, with the surveillance system to be linked to the Second Niger Bridge as part of measures to improve security and monitoring.

He directed that an empirical assessment be carried out on the bridge’s structural elements both above and below water level to determine their current condition.

The minister said the assessment report must be submitted before the current phase of rehabilitation is concluded.

On the bridge approaches, Umahi directed a review of proposed asphalt works, saying concrete should be used on sections likely to undergo reconstruction in the future.

He explained that the measure would help prevent public funds from being wasted on asphalt that could later be removed when reconstruction begins.

According to him, one carriageway could be opened to traffic once the concrete achieves the required strength, while rehabilitation works continue on the other carriageway.

The First Niger Bridge is a major transport corridor connecting communities and businesses across the Niger River and serves as an important route for movement between the South-East and South-South regions.

The closure had caused concerns among motorists and businesses that depend on the route, making the completion of rehabilitation works a significant development for road users.

The Delta State Commissioner for Works, Rural Roads and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, commended the Federal Government for the speed and quality of the rehabilitation.

Aniagwu recalled that Umahi had inspected the bridge on August 28 and subsequently directed the replacement of the vandalised bolts, nuts and expansion-joint components.

He said the directives had been implemented, while damaged portions of the asphalt surface had also been removed and replaced.

“We are pleased with the speed of work. We also appreciate our people who demonstrated a whole lot of patience to understand that you are after their safety,” Aniagwu said.

The commissioner said the rehabilitation had substantially improved the condition of the bridge and expressed confidence in the durability of the work.

He also commended motorists and other road users for their cooperation during the rehabilitation period.

With the major structural repairs nearing completion, attention is now shifting to the final safety, security and access works ahead of the planned reopening next week.