The Federal Government has reopened the First Niger Bridge linking Asaba, Delta State, and Onitsha, Anambra State, following extensive rehabilitation works, while announcing plans to reconstruct the Benin-Asaba Expressway and other major roads across the country.
The reopening followed interventions aimed at improving the bridge’s structural safety, strengthening security surveillance and restoring smooth vehicular movement between the South-South and South-East geopolitical zones.
Speaking during the reopening ceremony in Onitsha on Thursday, Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, said the rehabilitation reflected President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to maintaining critical national infrastructure and improving transportation networks across Nigeria.
Umahi explained that the intervention became necessary following concerns about the bridge’s condition, including reports of the removal of bolts from its steel components, inadequate maintenance and other activities capable of threatening its structural integrity.
According to the minister, the rehabilitation involved repairs to the bridge, installation of solar-powered streetlights and Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, improvements to the road surface and the introduction of traffic management measures.
He said median barriers had also been installed, while three designated turnaround points were created to improve traffic control during emergencies and vehicle breakdowns.
The minister further disclosed that security observation centres were being established at both ends of the bridge to ensure continuous monitoring of activities on and beneath the structure.
Umahi stressed that the measures were necessary to protect the ageing infrastructure from excessive loading, traffic congestion and other activities that could undermine its durability.
FG Warns Against Sand Dredging Near Niger Bridge
The Minister of Works warned against indiscriminate sand dredging around bridges, noting that Federal Government regulations prohibit dredging within a 10-kilometre radius of federal bridges.
He expressed concern over alleged dredging activities dangerously close to the First Niger Bridge and directed relevant federal officials in Delta and Anambra states to ensure immediate enforcement of the restriction.
Umahi also warned that disciplinary action would be taken against officials who failed to enforce the regulations.
Tinubu Orders Redesign, Reconstruction of Benin-Asaba Highway
Addressing concerns over the deteriorating condition of the Benin-Asaba Expressway, Umahi announced that President Tinubu had directed a comprehensive redesign of the highway ahead of its reconstruction.
The minister disclosed that the Federal Government had cancelled an ongoing remedial contract covering the first 11 kilometres of the road because of dissatisfaction with the quality of work.
He expressed confidence that the planned intervention would address the persistent difficulties faced by motorists and commuters travelling along the busy corridor.
Umahi also announced plans to reconstruct approximately 400 kilometres of the East-West Road, which he said would serve as a spur of the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment 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 the minister, the 17.5-kilometre Second Niger Bridge bypass, valued at approximately ₦172 billion, was already under construction.
He maintained that improved road connectivity remained essential to economic growth, regional integration, trade and national development.
Oborevwori Commends Federal Government’s Intervention
In his remarks, Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, represented by the Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, commended President Tinubu for responding to concerns about the condition of the First Niger Bridge.
The governor said the intervention highlighted the importance of establishing a sustainable maintenance culture for public infrastructure rather than waiting for facilities to deteriorate before taking action.
He noted that Umahi’s three visits to the bridge within two months demonstrated the attention given to the rehabilitation exercise.
“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,” Oborevwori said.
The governor explained that the rehabilitation was not merely about improving the bridge’s physical appearance but also about protecting commuters, facilitating trade and strengthening 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 stated.
Oborevwori expressed appreciation to President Tinubu and the Minister of Works for addressing public concerns about the bridge’s safety.
He described the intervention as an example of responsive governance, stressing that protecting existing infrastructure was as important as constructing new projects.
Asagba of Asaba Hails Bridge Rehabilitation
Similarly, the Asagba of Asaba, Obi Professor Epiphany Azinge, SAN, described the rehabilitation as a significant intervention that would strengthen the First Niger Bridge and extend its useful life.
Speaking on behalf of the Asaba community, the traditional ruler commended President Tinubu and Umahi for ensuring the completion of the rehabilitation works.
Azinge said the bridge remained central to the economic and social relationship between Delta and Anambra states, as well as the wider South-South and South-East regions.
“This may be the second most comprehensive intervention made so far on this bridge since its construction shortly before the Civil War,” the monarch said.
The reopening of the First Niger Bridge is expected to support transportation and commercial activities between the two regions, while the proposed road reconstruction projects are intended to address infrastructure challenges affecting motorists and businesses across the Niger Delta and South-East.
