The Nigerian government has approved the opening of the 2nd Niger bridge to traffic from December 15, 2022 to January 15, 2023 to ease human, goods, services and vehicular movements during this period from the Western part of the country to the Eastern.
Nigeria Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola SAN, who disclosed this while presiding over the 2023 Ember Month Programme with stakeholders on the road sector, in Abuja, the nation’s capital, said “There should not be any barrier on the roads this season.
“We have told all the contractors that they shouldn’t open anymore sections for construction i.e. there shouldn’t be any barrier on the roads this season. “
“Let me be clear again.We haven’t finished construction work but we would open it for people to use to relieve the pressure from the old bridge. It wouldn’t be available for heavy duty trucks.It would only be small vehicles for now until we finish our work. On the 15th of January 2023 we would reverse that movement for those coming from the east to the west. We have told all the contractors that they shouldn’t open any sections of Federal roads for construction during the yuletide. That means that there shouldn’t be any barrier on the roads this season.”
The representative of the Permanent Secretary, in the Ministry and Director Highways Planning and Development, Chukwunwike Uzor, stated that the essence of the ember months meeting was to sensitize road users and other stakeholders towards having a successful road passage.
For his part, the Director South-West, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr Adedamola Kuti highlighted all the critical roads across the six geo-political zones of the country under the Ministry, pointing out the ministry’s efforts made so far to put the Roads in good condition towards having good travelling experience during the ember mont
According to him “All controllers of works have been directed to remove construction barriers as from the 15th of December 2022 on the roads for road users to have seamless driving during the festive period.”
The Managing director of FERMA, Mr Nuruddeen Rafindadi, said FERMA identified some selected locations within 17 corridors where the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency is having interventions across the country in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.”
The representative of the Corps Marshall of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Assistant Corps Marshal Rindom Kumven said, all Federal Road Safety Commands have been directed to collaborate with stakeholders and the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to implement the presidential directive on road infrastructure
“We have flagged off the ember months sensitization in all the state commands to create awareness among the motoring public in order to have hitch-free traffic movement during the ember months. “
PIAK
