Umahi gives condition for reopening of First Niger Bridge

Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has said the First Niger Bridge will not be reopened until the major structural rehabilitation works are completed.

Umahi was speaking on Wednesday at the Onitsha Bridge Head.

He had visited the bridge to inspect ongoing rehabilitation works.

Umahi insisted that the Federal Government will not be pressurized into reopening the bridge until critical structural components identified for rehabilitation had been properly repaired.

“We are not going to be stampeded to open the bridge until the major structural work has been achieved,” Umahi said.

The First Niger Bridge was closed to traffic for emergency rehabilitation following the discovery of vandalised structural components, including bolts, nuts and portions of its expansion-joint steelwork.

The closure, initially scheduled to end on September 21, has been extended by one week due to persistent rainfall affecting the rehabilitation work.