The Federal Government has reopened the First Niger bridge to ease traffic in Onitsha in Anambra state and Delta State, after about 38 days closure in Anambra state.
The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, reopened the bridge on Thursday, with the Controllers of the two states, traditional rulers and other stakeholders present.
The bridge was closed on September 7, with an additional two weeks to complete the works.
It bridge which was built in 1965, was closed to allow for emergency rehabilitation and maintenance works following the discovery of vandalised structural components, including its expansion-joint steelwork.
Performing the opening ceremony at the Onitsha end of the bridge, Umahi said President Bola Tinubu has worked so hard for the Southeast and the people need to reward his hard work by voting for his reelection on January 16, 2027.
He said the necessary infrastructure has been fixed to ensure free flow of traffic, adding that the rehabilitation works carried out were aimed at easing traffic and ensuring the safety of road users.
According to Umahi,”We have every reason to thank the governors of Anambra and Delta states.
“We must commend the contractors, SKCC, very, very highly; they have worked very well. We are not 100 per cent done because we are going to do.
“The evidence of what we are doing today is a total testimony that President Bola Tinubu is indeed detribalised Nigeria.
“What other regions are getting, the people of South-South and Southeast are getting it. And so why should we not appreciate the President?
” If the President, God forbid, were not the President in 2027, do you think that any of these people, marauding will have the capacity, the audacity, the courage, the wisdom, the pedigree to do this?
”For how many years, we had Enugu-Onitsha Road, nobody could pass it. Why was there no governor that intervened.
“We have no regret supporting President Bola Tinubu. Let me declare in opening this bridge that I have no regret supporting Mr President.
“I am very, very proud for him to be my boss. He is the most qualified and eminently qualified to lead this country.
“And so, by the power of Mr. President and in our deep appreciation of what he has done for the people of South-South and Southeast in this bridge, it is my humble pleasure, and with gratitude to God Almighty, to open this bridge for the benefit of our people, in Jesus name.”
