Passengers and motorists going to the South East couldn’t hide their joy as the federal government directed the opening of the second Niger Bridge to vehicular movement from December 15, 2022 to January 15, 2023 to ease movement during the festive period.
The bridge, which is opened to vehicles coming from the West to the South East through Asaba, Delta State, from December 15, 2022 to January 1, 2023, will be opened to vehicles coming out of the South East to the West from January 1-15, 2023. Thereafter, it would be closed for resumption of construction, according to the minister.
The government also banned articulated vehicles from plying the bridge because of the narrow and muddy nature of the access road leading to it.
The first Niger Bridge at Onitsha, a 1960s steel truss structure with two lanes, is always overloaded, leading to gridlock and wastage of man-hours. There are reports of motorists sleeping over at the bridge, especially whenever there is a major vehicular breakdown.
The Second Niger Bridge which crosses the Niger River between the cities of Asaba, the capital of Delta State, in the West and Onitsha in the East, is 1.6 km (0.99 mi) long and will be furnished with other ancillary infrastructure including a 10.3 km (6.4 mi) highway, Owerri interchange and a toll station all at Obosi, upon completion.
President Muhammadu Buhari, who opened the new bridge for use during the festive season, counselled road users to drive safely and responsibly.
While noting that part of the money used in constructing the bridge was from looted funds recovered, Buhari, who was represented by the Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), said the purpose of the bridge was to save lives and alleviate poverty occasioned by the waste of man-hours resulting from gridlock on the old first second bridge.
The minister said it would be counterproductive if the users would become reckless and attract unnecessary mishaps upon themselves.
He said, “The maximum speed limit on Nigerian roads is 100km per hour. Don’t drive 101km per hour. The president will be happy to see users drive safely and responsibly while using this road, especially during this Christmas and New Year seasons.
“Let me be clear again; we haven’t finished construction work on the bridge but we would open it for people to use to relieve the pressure from the one bridge.”
Chairman of the South East Governors‘ Forum, David Umahi of Ebonyi State, described the accomplishment and opening of the new River Niger Bridge by the Buhari administration as “a great miracle for the people of the South East and Nigeria at large.”
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, who was represented by his Commissioner for Works, also commended the federal government and Julius Berger for the completion and opening of the bridge.
The bridge’s long journey
Former military head of state, General Ibrahim Babangida, in 1987 challenged local engineers to design the Second Niger Bridge, after warning about the state of the existing River Niger Bridge by the then Minister for Works and Housing, Abubakar Umar. The Nigerian Society of Engineers, called NSE Prems Limited then, delivered a master plan but nothing was achieved as the project received little attention from subsequent military governments.
Despite several promises from Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan to deliver the bridge, they couldn’t until President Muhammadu Buhari took over in 2015.
Motorists express relief
Daily Trust correspondents, who visited the bridge, observed that vehicles were plying the bridge from Asaba to Onitsha.
There was a heavy security presence at the bridge as various security operatives were seen patrolling to ensure safety of lives and properties of those plying the bridge. They also ensured that drivers adhered to traffic rules on the bridge as some vehicles coming from the East also made attempts to use it.
Secretary of electronic dealers in Onitsha market, Deacon Damian Ogudike, said the opening of the new bridge was a good decision. He said the new bridge would ease the stress at the bridgehead from Asaba, Delta State.
“Honestly, the immediate benefit is the easing of stress people pass through to cross the bridgehead. I think it is a good one,” he said.
One of the road users, Mr Anthony Okafor, said the opening of the Second Niger Bridge was a big relief to travellers, especially during the Christmas period.
Another road user, Ifeanyi Uche, said the new bridge was a blessing to the South East and a welcome development.
He added that travellers had endured nightmares on the Onitsha Bridge which always affected the yuletide celebration.
Israel Chinaza, a 35-year-old driver, who spoke to our correspondent, said, “Words cannot be used to thank the government for opening the bridge at this time. I am happy that this is happening. You need to see the kind of traffic now at the overhead bridge; this road now is just like a saviour.”
While noting that the bridge is a welcome development, Sunday Onyeka, who is a bus driver, lamented that there is still heavy traffic on the overhead bridge.
“The road is really nice. That overhead bridge traffic has really been our problem here, so the government has really done well, but I am not feeling very well because after the opening of this new bridge, there is still heavy traffic at the overhead bridge. Leaving the East to Asaba is still a big problem,” he lamented.
Mrs Nneka Onyebuchi, a traveller, said it has saved commuters, especially those who do not have business at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, Nkpor, or the Onitsha-Owerri Road from the gridlock and robberies experienced on the overhead bridge.
The businesswoman, who said that she was going to Aba, said travellers were always at the mercy of touts and armed robbers on the Onitsha-Owerri Road.
“This is a huge relief to us because travellers going straight to Aba, Owerri, Umuahia, Port Harcourt and other places don’t have to endure the evils on the other bridge and go through the deplorable Onitsha-Owerri Road, which is a nightmare,” she said.
Another traveller, Stanley Onyebuchi, pleaded with the government to provide adequate security on the bridge, especially at night, noting that the access to the road is notorious for attacks.
“The commissioning of the bridge is very good. The only thing is that the government should put security on this road they are asking people to follow now, because the road is not good at night; it’s very bad. Those bad boys stay there. There should be security there. Since the government has done well, Nigerians should get their PVCs and vote for the right choice for the betterment of this country,” he added.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo hails Buhari
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has lauded President Buhari for the completion of the Second Niger Bridge.
The group in a statement by its spokesperson, Chiedozie Ogbonnia, said Buhari has kept his promise to complete the bridge before the end of his tenure.
“The Second Niger Bridge is a key national infrastructure, with immense socio-economic benefits not only for the contiguous states but for the entire nation.
“The second Niger Bridge has been a major concern to the Igbo for over 50 years because of two major reasons; apart from the traffic lock jam on top of the (First Niger) bridge, the greatest fear was that the bridge had evidence of cracks such that the stress of weights on the bridge could cause a collapse of all the vehicles and their contents into the River Niger with untold consequences,” the group said.
The Igbo apex group, which noted that successive administrations had used the bridge as bait on the Igbo,” especially during political campaigns, pointed out that many South Easterners did not believe Buhari when he made the promise to construct the bridge.
“Surely, President Buhari did not start the work on the bridge, but in a country where the abandoned projects far outnumber the completed ones, vital infrastructure that should have been taken for granted are celebrated.
“While the Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by George Obiozor immensely appreciates Mr President on the Second Niger Bridge, it is hoped that Mr President will use the remaining few months in office to pursue some other transcendental objectives which will write his name with gold in the sands of time,” it added.
The first driver to pass through the Second Niger Bridge, Sunday Emem, expressed tremendous joy for reaching the milestone.
“I feel so happy; at least it will reduce the hold-up. We’ve stayed over one hour at the other bridge,” he said in an interview with Channels TV.
From Meluwa Kelvin, Asaba & Titus Eleweke, Awka
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