Robbers have vandalized the road fittings that were recently installed on the newly opened Second Niger bridge. The incident occurred on Wednesday, with the expansion joint walkway on axis 330 of the bridge being stolen.
A source confirmed that this unfortunate event took place, highlighting that the stolen fitting is an important part of the bridge’s expansion joints. Drivers using that road are advised to be cautious as the damaged section can cause discomfort for motorists. The supervising engineers for the project have expressed concern about the incident.
It’s worth noting that the bridge, which cost N336 billion, was commissioned by former president Muhammadu Buhari on May 23, 2023, along with seven other infrastructure projects. The completion of the bridge was announced by former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, in October 2022, after almost five decades of unfulfilled promises by previous administrations.
The Federal Government opened the Second Niger Bridge for use on December 15, 2022, to alleviate traffic congestion in the South-East during the festive season. The bridge, spanning 1.6 kilometers and connecting Anambra and Delta states, was initially proposed during the 1978/79 political campaign by Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria, taking inspiration from the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.
Its purpose is to reduce traffic on the existing Niger Bridge, stimulate economic activities, and enhance connectivity between the South-East and the rest of the country. As of now, the Ministry spokesperson, Blessing Adams-Lere, has not released an official confirmation regarding the incident.
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