The Minister of Works, Engr Dave Umahi, has ordered the installation of closed-circuit television, CCTV, cameras on the First Niger Bridge as a way to stop the theft of bolts, iron joints and other components of the bridge.
The minister gave the order on Thursday while inspecting parts of the bridge where vandals removed bolts, expansion joints and iron bars holding together the bridge.
Umahi also inspected the Second Niger Bridge, whose base had been eaten into by erosion, endangering motorists who drive on the bridge, oblivious of the hollow underneath.
While inspecting the First Niger Bridge, Umahi said: “We saw this vandalisation on social media. We want to thank members of the public for bringing this to our attention.
“The bolts holding this bridge have been vandalised and stolen, including the overhead steel bar which has been disconnected, and that is even more dangerous.
“This will be very difficult to refix because the bridge is under tension, and as I’m dragging it, it will make the members to yield.”
Umahi ordered the Controller of Works in Anambra State, Engr. Timothy Emenike, to take the bolts to the market, procure the size and fix them at once.
He insisted that the Federal Government cannot build bridges for the people and vandals will continue to destroy them. He said henceforth, the entire bridge will be fitted with cameras to ensure that these vandals are arrested.
He told the Controller of Works: “Buy the bolt tomorrow and fix them and let the welding take place on Saturday. As I will go to rest after this inspection, you will not rest until you fix these problems.
“We will fix solar streetlights and CCTV on this bridge and that will be transmitted to your phone and also linked to the police, so that if we see anyone who comes here to vandalise the bridge, we will pick them up.
“I have better things to do than to keep coming here to inspect vandalisation of infrastructure built by the Federal Government for the people.”
Speaking on the shaky nature of the bridge, Umahi said: “People have said the bridge is shaking but that is because of the bearing and every bridge shakes. As for this bridge, there is so much dead load on the bridge because of the asphalt.”
Umahi added that maintenance would begin on the bridge, and the bridge would be closed at night for the duration of the work.
On the erosion threatening the Second Niger Bridge, Umahi ordered the arrest of anyone found excavating sand around the bridge.
“I don’t want to know who they are. Once you find anyone involved in the excavation of sand around this area, you must arrest them before you start making contact with us. Don’t just report to us, arrest them first before you reach us,” Umahi ordered.
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