Minister of Works Sen. David Umahi has urged South-East voters to re-elect President Bola Tinubu in 2027, citing the administration’s infrastructure projects in the region.
Umahi made the appeal on Wednesday during an inspection of the ongoing rehabilitation of the First Niger Bridge linking Onitsha in Anambra with Asaba in Delta.
He said the strategic crossing would remain closed until major structural and safety works were completed.
“We are not going to be stampeded to open the bridge until the major structural work has been achieved,” Umahi said.
He stressed that public safety and the quality of the rehabilitation would determine when traffic could resume.
The minister said vandalised bolts and nuts had been replaced and secured, while a specialised expansion joint removed from the bridge had been manufactured and transported to the site.
He commended contractor SKECC for the progress recorded within about 10 days despite persistent rainfall.
Additional Works Ordered
Umahi directed the contractor to undertake additional works identified during the inspection, including repairs and repainting of structural elements, improvement of sections of the carriageway, installation of additional solar-powered lights and completion of the CCTV surveillance system.
He also directed that sections of the approaches requiring reconstruction should be executed in concrete where necessary, rather than asphalt, to avoid duplication of work and waste of public funds.
He said rehabilitation would be phased to allow traffic to resume on one carriageway while work continued on the other, subject to safety requirements.
The minister warned against vandalism and unauthorised dredging near the bridge foundations, saying the removal of structural components had increased the cost and complexity of rehabilitation and could undermine the safety of the strategic infrastructure.
Controller of Works in Anambra State, Timothy Emenike, who represented the Controllers of Works in Anambra and Delta states, said rehabilitation had progressed on the bridge, walkways and approaches on both sides.
He said workers were operating during the day and at night to accelerate completion, identifying persistent rainfall as the major challenge.
Officials Commend Rehabilitation
Delta State Commissioner for Works, Rural Roads and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, who represented the governors of Delta and Anambra states, commended the Nigerian Government for the pace of rehabilitation.
He said the repairs would strengthen connectivity between the South-East and South-South and improve the movement of people and goods.
The Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Community Engagement for the South-East, Chioma Nweze, also commended the progress.
The contractor said asphalt laying on the bridge and walkways had been completed, with work continuing on the two approach sections.
The First Niger Bridge remains a major national transport corridor, facilitating the movement of passengers, goods and commercial traffic between the South-East, South-South and other parts of Nigeria.
