Nigeria's Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has ordered the prohibition of check-points within 200 metres of the 1st Niger Bridge-head. This directive was made during an inspection of the ongoing maintenance work on the bridge, which connects Anambra and Delta states. The minister was accompanied by experts from his ministry, including the Controller of Works for Anambra state, Emenike Chukwudi Timothy.
The Works Minister appealed to the Inspector-General of Police to issue a directive for compliance with the prohibition. He also urged the governments of Anambra and Delta states to instruct their taskforces to adhere to the order. According to Umahi, creating hold-ups on the bridge is dangerous and could lead to accidents. The minister's directive aims to ensure a smooth flow of traffic and enhance safety for users of the bridge.
Although the minister announced that the bridge would be opened for use next week, additional maintenance work will be carried out to ensure the quality of engineering work on the bridge. Some of the planned reviews include the application of special paints on the infrastructure and the rehabilitation of 100 metres of roads leading to the bridge-head on both sides using concrete pavements instead of asphalt.
Umahi commended the quality of maintenance work done on the bridge and praised the contractors, SKECC, for their speed and efficiency in carrying out the work despite the rains. The minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of work on the bridge, describing it as "beautiful work." He also acknowledged the challenges posed by vandals and announced plans to install CCTV cameras to track and prevent such activities.
The minister urged the governors of Anambra and Delta states to take intentional steps to initiate security measures to prevent vandalization of the bridge infrastructure. Specifically, he suggested that the two state governments should prohibit scrap markets, which he believes encourage vandalization of the bridge infrastructure. Umahi emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to protect the bridge and ensure its longevity.
In a related development, Umahi praised President Bola Tinubu for showing love and commitment to the people of the South East, despite not receiving impressive votes from the zone in the 2023 general election. The minister's commendation underscores the importance of federal government support for infrastructure development in the region.
The prohibition of check-points near the 1st Niger Bridge-head is one of several measures aimed at enhancing safety and security on the bridge. The installation of CCTV cameras and the planned prohibition of scrap markets are expected to complement these efforts. Overall, the Works Minister's directives and initiatives reflect a commitment to ensuring the quality and safety of Nigeria's infrastructure.
Key points
- The Works Minister has prohibited check-points within 200 metres of the 1st Niger Bridge-head to prevent hold-ups and enhance safety.
- Additional maintenance work, including the application of special paints and rehabilitation of roads leading to the bridge-head, will be carried out to ensure the quality of engineering work on the bridge.
- The minister has urged the governors of Anambra and Delta states to prohibit scrap markets, which encourage vandalization of the bridge infrastructure.
