The Federal Government has extended the closure of the First Niger Bridge linking Onitsha in Anambra State and Asaba in Delta State, with the bridge now expected to reopen on September 28, 2026, subject to favourable weather conditions and completion of the ongoing rehabilitation works.
Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, stated this on Wednesday, September 23, after inspecting the rehabilitation work at the Onitsha Bridge Head.
Umahi said the Federal Government would not reopen the bridge until the critical structural works had been completed, stressing that safety would not be compromised for the sake of meeting a particular reopening date.
“We are not going to be stampeded to open the bridge until the major structural work has been achieved,” the minister said.
The bridge was closed for emergency rehabilitation after inspections revealed vandalised structural components, including bolts, nuts and portions of the expansion-joint steelwork. The closure, initially scheduled to end on September 21, was extended by one week following persistent rainfall that disrupted the rehabilitation work.
Umahi said the vandalised bolts had been replaced and properly secured, while the specialised expansion joint removed from the bridge had been manufactured and brought into the country for installation.
The minister also directed the contractor, SKECC, to undertake additional works, including repainting the bridge’s structural elements and installing additional solar-powered streetlights.
He further ordered the completion of CCTV cameras on the bridge, with the surveillance system to be linked to the Second Niger Bridge.
Umahi also directed an assessment of the bridge’s structural elements both above and below the water level to determine their condition, with the assessment report expected before the current phase of rehabilitation is concluded.
The prolonged closure has continued to affect motorists and commuters who depend on the Onitsha-Asaba corridor, with many relying on alternative routes while rehabilitation work continues.
Speaking on behalf of the governors of Anambra and Delta States, Delta State Commissioner for Works, Rural Roads and Public Information, Charles Aniagwu, commended the Federal Government for the progress recorded on the bridge.
Aniagwu also appealed to road users to remain patient, saying the rehabilitation was being carried out with safety in mind.
The First Niger Bridge remains a major transport link between the South-East and other parts of the country, while the Second Niger Bridge continues to serve as an alternative route during the closure.
By Enitan Mudashiru | MUK TV News
