FG opens Second Niger Bridge to motoring public

MIKE OCHONMA 

Travellers heading towards the eastern part of the country during this Christmas and end of year period can now make use of the newly built Second Niger Bridge which has been opened to vehicular movements by the federal government.

The bridge was open at exactly 9:50am on Thursday, December 15, 2022, even as the federal government had earlier announced that, the bridge will be opened at 12am the same day.

The delay according to a government official was a result of some little adjustments on the roads linking the bridge.

According to report on Channels Television monitored by our reporter, the first driver to pass through the bridge, Sunday Emem, expressed his delight to Channels Television. “I feel so happy, at least it will reduce the hold-up. We’ve stayed over one hour at the other bridge,” he said.

Obinna Eze, the second driver to pass through the bridge, urged the present administration to complete it before May 2023.

“It is a reality, though it is not 100% complete, so far what we are seeing is impressive. We commend the present administration and we hope they complete it based on the time frame,” Eze said.

Recall that, the minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), last Thursday disclosed that the Second Niger Bridge would be open to traffic from December 15, 2022, to January 15, 2023 to ease the experience of travellers during Yuletide break. The 1.6 kilometers long bridge links Anambra and Delta states.

The Second Niger Bridge was first proposed during the 1978/79 political campaign by then-candidate Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).