Newly Commissioned 2nd Niger Bridge Vandalized

VOICE AIR MEDIA News Update

Vandals have taken some of the newly installed road fittings on the Second Niger bridge.

On Wednesday, a source in the works ministry verified that the extension joint walkway on axis 330 of the bridge had really been stolen.

It’s real, unfortunately,” the person claimed. The stolen fitting is a component of the bridge’s expansion joints. Drivers on that route must exercise caution because the damaged area may irritate them.

A second source who spoke with Punch correspondent confirmed the information and added that the incident had not gone over well with the supervisory engineers.

Recall that on May 23, the former president, Muhammadu Buhari, commissioned the N336 billion bridge, via an online platform, Zoom alongside seven other infrastructural projects.

The former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, announced the completion of the bridge at a briefing in October 2022 after almost five decades of failed promises by successive administrations.

On December 15, 2022, the Federal Government also opened the Second Niger Bridge for use to ease traffic in the South-East during the festive season.

The Second Niger Bridge was first proposed during the 1978/79 political campaign by then-candidate Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria.

Patterned after the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, the 1.6 kilometres long bridge linking Anambra and Delta states is to decongest traffic on the existing Niger Bridge, boost economic activities, and connect the South-East with the rest of the country.

Efforts to reach the ministry spokesperson, Blessing Adams-Lere, for official confirmation, proved abortive, as phone calls were not responded to as of press time.

Details shortly…