The Federal Government says the First Niger Bridge linking Anambra and Delta States will reopen to traffic next week, following the completion of key rehabilitation works.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, gave the assurance on Wednesday after inspecting the ongoing repairs at the Onitsha Bridge Head.
The bridge was closed earlier this month after vandals removed critical structural components, including bolts, nuts and sections of the expansion-joint steelwork.
Although the bridge was initially expected to reopen on September 21, the closure was extended by one week due to persistent rainfall.
Umahi said significant progress had been made by the contractor, SKECC, with the vandalised bolts replaced and properly secured.
He also disclosed that the specialised expansion joint removed by vandals had been manufactured and transported to Nigeria for installation.
The minister, however, stressed that the bridge would only reopen after the major structural works had been completed, with safety taking priority.
He directed the contractor to carry out additional works, including repainting structural components and carriageway sections, removing illegal advertisements and installing additional solar-powered streetlights.
Umahi also ordered the completion of CCTV cameras on the bridge, with the surveillance system to be linked to the Second Niger Bridge.
He further directed an assessment of the bridge’s structural elements above and below the water to determine their condition, with the report to be submitted before the rehabilitation phase is concluded.
On the bridge approaches, the minister directed that concrete be used on sections likely to require future reconstruction, instead of asphalt, to avoid unnecessary expenditure.
He said one carriageway could be opened once the concrete reaches the required strength while rehabilitation continues on the other carriageway.
Delta State Commissioner for Works, Rural Roads and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, commended the Federal Government for the speed of the rehabilitation and thanked motorists for their patience during the closure.
He said the repairs had substantially improved the condition of the bridge and expressed confidence in the durability of the work.
