(Umahi inspecting the bridge. Photo Credit: Ikenna Obianeri)
The Minister of Works David Umahi has asked the governors of Anambra and Delta states to watch scrap markets closely to stop theft and damage to the First Niger Bridge.
He made this call while checking the rehabilitation work at the Onitsha end of the bridge connecting the two states.
Umahi said vandals have cost the government huge money after they stole and damaged bolts, nuts and expansion joints on the bridge.
The bridge closed from September 7 to 21 for emergency repairs after vandalized parts were found.
The closure was extended by a week because of heavy rain slowing the work.
When he was governor, Umahi banned all scrap dealing in Ebonyi State because such activities lead to damage of public infrastructure.
He said people need to see protecting critical infrastructure as everyone’s job and should alert security when they spot vandals.
Umahi ordered all illegal advertisement billboards removed from the bridge and replaced with pictures of President Tinubu to reward the president for doing good work in the South-East.
The bridge will reopen next week when work is done and the government will not be rushed to open it before everything is finished.
He also banned illegal sand dredging near the bridge and ordered the Bridge Director to write the Army, Police, Navy and Civil Defence to pass a directive stopping any sand dredging within 10 kilometres of bridges across the country.
The contractor SKECC has replaced the vandalised bolts and the specialised expansion joint that was stolen and flown in from outside.
CCTV cameras have been installed, streetlights added and the road surface rebuilt along with walkways and expansion joints.
All bridge parts will be repainted grey when work is done.
Umahi told people they should not waste their votes in 2027 and urged them to back Tinubu since he is doing projects in their region despite them not voting for him in the last election.
He said security checkpoints within 200 metres of the bridge should be removed because they cause traffic that damages the structure.
The governors and contractors were praised for their work on getting the bridge back in shape.
