The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has directed that pictures of President Bola Tinubu be placed on the First Niger Bridge linking Anambra and Delta states after the completion of ongoing rehabilitation works.
Umahi gave the directive on Wednesday during an inspection of the bridge, which was temporarily closed after vandals removed structural components, including bolts, nuts and sections of its expansion joints. He also ordered the removal of illegal advertisements on the bridge.
The minister said anyone seeking to advertise on the bridge would have to obtain approval from the Federal Ministry of Works. He said the space would, for the time being, be used to display pictures of President Tinubu in recognition of projects he attributed to the administration in the South-East.
Umahi also used the inspection to appeal to voters in the South-East ahead of the 2027 presidential election. He urged residents of the region to consider the infrastructure projects being implemented by the Federal Government when making their political choices.
The minister noted that the South-East did not strongly support Tinubu in the 2023 presidential election but argued that the region had continued to benefit from projects under his administration.
Umahi, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress, also challenged supporters of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, to identify projects they believed Obi had attracted to the South-East.
He described Obi as a brother but called for what he described as a realistic assessment of infrastructure delivered in the region.
Meanwhile, rehabilitation work on the First Niger Bridge is nearing completion, with the Federal Ministry of Works expecting to reopen the affected section next week. The reopening was initially scheduled for September 21 but was extended by one week following persistent rainfall that disrupted the work.
Umahi said the ministry would not rush the reopening before completing critical structural repairs. He added that one carriageway could initially be opened to traffic while work continued on the other, subject to the concrete attaining the required strength.
The rehabilitation has involved replacing vandalised bolts and expansion joints, carrying out work on the carriageway and walkways, and installing CCTV cameras and streetlights. The minister also directed additional measures to improve surveillance and protect the bridge from further vandalism.
Umahi further directed the governors of Anambra and Delta states to monitor scrap markets in their respective states because of concerns over the removal and sale of components from public infrastructure.
He said the government would also restrict dredging activities around the bridge where necessary and continue structural assessments to establish its condition and ensure safety.
The minister directed that there should be no security checkpoints within 200 metres of the bridge, arguing that static checkpoints could contribute to traffic congestion and place additional pressure on the structure.
He apologised to motorists for the disruption caused by the closure and thanked the Anambra and Delta state governments for their cooperation during the rehabilitation.
