Commuters Groan As Rainfall Delays First Niger Bridge Reopening

The reopening of the First Niger Bridge has been delayed due to persistent heavy rainfall across the state, extending the reopening by an extra week, subject to favourable weather conditions.

The contractor would require at least three consecutive dry days before work can resume, forcing commuters to take commercial boats or walk across parts of the bridge.

Motorists were seen using the alternative routes provided, while commuters from the Asaba end of the bridge faced heavy delays, scrambling for alternative routes via the Onitsha-Owerri Road at higher fares.

Some commuters were seen alighting from various vehicles upon approaching the diversion to the alternative routes, and resorted to trekking along the bridge to continue their journeys to their destinations.

A ‘God Is Good’ driver, who identified himself as Barry, lamented the suffering and untold hardship motorists were facing.

“The contractor should have first fixed these alternative routes before closing the bridge; it would have saved motorists the untold hardship. People plying this route now spend over four hours on a journey that would take less than 60 minutes due to the very bad sections of the alternative routes, especially the Onitsha-Owerri Road.

“Apart from that, the transportation cost has more than tripled, thereby extending the hardship on motorists. We urge the authorities concerned to speed up the work.”

Recall that the federal government, through the Ministry of Works, Anambra state field headquarters, announced the closure of the bridge in Onitsha for two weeks, from 7 September to 21, 2026, to allow for rehabilitation and maintenance works.

The two-week closure of the bridge was aimed at carrying out emergency repairs to replace its vandalised railings, bolts and nuts, including portions of the expansion-joint steelwork and stanchion/steel truss nuts, as well as the installation of CCTV cameras, and also general improvement of the bridge to restore the facility

However, constant rainfall has disrupted the planned reopening, thereby extending heavy traffic congestion, longer travel times and increased transportation costs for commuters travelling between Onitsha, Anambra state, and Asaba, Delta state.

The Acting Federal Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Works, Anambra State Field Headquarters, Timothy Emenike, announced the closure in a statement, saying that the bridge, which connects motorists from Anambra and Delta states, will be fully closed to traffic from Monday, 7 September 2026, and is expected to reopen on Monday, 21 September 2026.

Emenike advised motorists and other road users to use the Second Niger Bridge route through Obosi, Whistleblower Road towards Asaba, Delta state, and other destinations throughout the closure period.

However, as of Monday, amid heavy rainfall, the bridge was still barricaded by construction vehicles and equipment, such as caterpillars, while some on-site workers were seen working at the bridge.

It was also discovered that some sections of the bridge that had already been worked upon had been affected by the persistent rainfall.

When contacted by telephone, Emenike said the reopening of the bridge may no longer be possible for now, adding that, following the impact of the rainfall on the project, the contractor would require at least three consecutive dry days for work to resume.

Emenike added that, in view of the circumstances, the completion date for the maintenance work had been extended by one week, subject to favourable weather conditions.

He also explained that the lighting challenges affecting night operations had been addressed, while the security issues around the bridge had also been resolved.

“We have actually done a lot of work on most portions of the bridge, but with the constant heavy rains for almost one week, some areas have been affected and need at least three dry days for us to return to the site.

“So, in view of what is on the ground, we have extended the date for the completion of the project by one week, depending on the weather. For now, we pray for three dry days so we can return to the site.

“Once the maintenance work on the bridge is completed, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, will undertake another inspection of the project to assess the work and give approval for the reopening of the bridge.”

Meanwhile, a site engineer confided that “The vandalised bolts and nuts have been fixed. We are at the asphalt level at the moment, but we are experiencing brief downtime due to incessant rainfall.

“Within this period, we had almost three days of rain, and each time there is rainfall for a day, the job is delayed for two days or more. The rains also prevented the delivery of some materials, such as asphalt, and at the moment we are waiting for it, although the ministry has ordered it.

“Inadequate lighting also affected night operations, as the security of workers and the safety of materials could not be guaranteed.

“With the development, the planned reopening of the bridge may not proceed as scheduled today, due to the fact that the job is not yet completed. Motorists will still use the alternative routes provided. The Ministry of Works is still aiming to reopen the bridge as soon as possible,” he stated.