Works Minister Prohibits Checkpoints 200 Metres To 1st Niger Bridge-Head

Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, has prohibited the mounting of checkpoints anywhere within 200 metres of the 1st Niger Bridge.

The minister gave the order yesterday when he led a team of the ministry’s experts, including the controller of works, Anambra State, Emenike Chukwudi Timothy, to inspect the ongoing maintenance work on the bridge.

Umahi appealed to the inspector-general of police (IGP) to give a directive for compliance with the prohibition.

He also urged the governments of the two neighbouring states, Anambra and Delta, to direct all their task forces to comply with the prohibition in their operations.

Umahi warned that creating a hold-up on the bridge is dangerous.

Though the minister announced that the bridge would be opened for use next week, he stated that additional maintenance work would be carried out to ensure the quality of the bridge’s engineering work.

Some of the reviews he announced included application of special paints on the infrastructure, changing the rehabilitation of the 100 metres of roads to the bridge-head on both sides to concrete pavements instead of asphalt, and several others.

He, however, commended the quality of maintenance work done on the bridge and the speed at which the contractors, SKECC, applied in carrying out the maintenance work, saying “they (contractors) have done beautiful work”, despite the rains.

Umahi, however, decried vandalism on the bridge and announced that CCTV cameras would be installed to track such criminal activity going forward.

He also urged the governors of both Anambra and Delta states to be intentional in implementing security measures to curb vandalism of the bridge infrastructure.

He particularly urged the two state governments to prohibit the scrap market, arguing that the business encourages vandalism of the bridge infrastructure.

He praised President Bola Tinubu for showing love to the people of the South East, despite not receiving strong support from the zone in the 2023 general election.