During an inspection of the ongoing rehabilitation works on the old Niger Bridge, the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, announced that the first phase of the project will reopen to traffic next week. The bridge, which links Anambra and Delta states, had been closed after vandals removed bolts and expansion joints, forcing commuters to use the Second Niger Bridge.
The rehabilitation contract was awarded on 7 September 2026. According to Umahi, the removed bolts and expansion joints have been replaced and resurfacing with asphalt and concrete is still underway. He said he would return next week to open the completed section while other works continue.
Umahi also directed a number of safety and aesthetic measures. The kerbs along the bridge will be painted with oil paint, metal components up to a specified height will be repainted, and all illegal advertisements will be removed. He warned that anyone wishing to advertise must obtain approval from the Federal Ministry of Works. Roadblocks, task forces and tax collection points within 200 metres of the bridge were ordered to be removed, as they were creating traffic congestion and safety risks.
Additional improvements include the installation of extra solar lights and the immediate linking of the bridge’s closed‑circuit television cameras to the Second Niger Bridge. Umahi has set up a committee to conduct an empirical assessment of the bridge both above and below the water level, with a report due before the end of work on Thursday.
Speaking on the importance of protecting public infrastructure, the minister said the country is losing significant resources to vandalism and called for collective action to safeguard such assets.
In a separate statement, Umahi praised President Bola Tinubu for his prompt intervention in infrastructure development across Nigeria. He urged voters in the South‑East and South‑South regions to support Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, noting that the administration has embarked on major projects in those zones. While calling former Anambra governor Peter Obi a brother, Umahi urged voters to be strategic and support Tinubu, and suggested that presidential aides beautify the Niger Bridge with images of the president as a tribute to his contributions.
<small>Source: Vanguard News — read the original story there.</small>
