The First Niger Bridge will remain closed to traffic until critical structural rehabilitation works are completed, Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, has said.
Umahi stated this on Wednesday, September 23, after inspecting ongoing repairs at the Onitsha Bridge Head. He said the Federal Government would not reopen the bridge until damaged structural components, including vandalised bolts, nuts and expansion-joint steelwork, had been properly repaired.
The bridge was closed for emergency rehabilitation, with the reopening earlier scheduled for Sept. 21. The closure has now been extended by one week due to persistent rainfall. Umahi said the vandalised bolts had been replaced, while the specialised expansion joint had been manufactured and brought into the country for installation.
The minister also directed additional works, including repainting structural elements, removing illegal advertisements, installing solar-powered streetlights and completing CCTV surveillance linked to the Second Niger Bridge. He ordered a comprehensive assessment of the bridge’s structural condition above and below water.
Umahi said safety would remain the priority, adding that one carriageway could be opened when the concrete on the approaches attained the required strength while rehabilitation continued on the other. Delta Commissioner for Works, Charles Aniagwu, commended the Federal Government’s intervention and praised residents for their patience during the closure.
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