The Federal Government has reopened the First Niger Bridge linking Onitsha, Anambra State, to Asaba, Delta State, following 38 days of closure for emergency rehabilitation.
Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, officially reopened the bridge on Thursday, 15 October, at a ceremony attended by government representatives and traditional rulers from both states.
However, beyond the reopening, Umahi used the occasion to make a political appeal, urging residents of the South-East and South-South to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.
The minister argued that the Federal Government’s infrastructure projects in the two regions demonstrated the President’s commitment to national development, insisting that the areas deserved to reciprocate through political support.
Umahi declared that he had no regrets supporting Tinubu, describing the President as qualified to lead the country and praising his administration’s investments in road infrastructure.
The First Niger Bridge was closed on 7 September after authorities discovered vandalised structural components, including steelwork around its expansion joints. The closure, initially expected to end on 21 September, was extended because of persistent rainfall and other delays.
According to the minister, the rehabilitation was aimed at improving the bridge’s condition, strengthening safety and restoring traffic movement along the busy route connecting the South-East and South-South.
Umahi commended the governments of Anambra and Delta states for their cooperation, while also praising the contractor, SKCC, for its work. He acknowledged, however, that some aspects of the rehabilitation remained incomplete.
The reopening is expected to ease the transportation difficulties experienced by motorists, traders and commuters during the closure.
Built in 1965, the First Niger Bridge remains a major transport corridor for commercial activities and passenger movement between the two regions.
