By Attah Ede
The Federal Government through ministry of works, has announced immediate temporary closure of the First Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State to undergo emergency repairs.
This is to give room for necessary restoration of the structure to a safe and motorable condition.
The Federal Ministry of Works said the bridge would be closed to traffic for two weeks, starting from Monday, September 7, 2026, with the intervention expected to be completed on September 21.
The Acting Controller of works, Anambra State, Timothy Emenike, announced the closure in a statement on Friday following an inspection of the First and Second Niger bridges by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi.
The inspection identified defects on the First Niger Bridge, including deterioration of the carriageway surface and vandalisation of some bridge components.
Emenike stated that the affected components include portions of the expansion joint steelworks as well as stanchion and steel truss nuts and bolts.
“Following the discovery, Umahi directed that “emergency maintenance and rehabilitation works” be carried out to restore the bridge to a safe and motorable condition.
” Messrs SKECC, the contractor handling the 20-kilometre section of the Onitsha-Enugu Dual Carriageway, had been directed to undertake the emergency repairs.
“During the closure, motorists and other road users are advised to use the Second Niger Bridge route through Obosi towards Asaba, Delta State, and other destinations beyond”, the statement read.
The ministry said appropriate traffic diversion arrangements would be put in place, including road signs, safety barriers and traffic-control personnel to guide motorists and protect both road users and workers at the construction sites.
Motorists were also urged to comply with temporary traffic signs and diversion instructions, reduce their speed and avoid reckless overtaking around construction and diversion areas.
The repair works will involve milling and removing the deteriorated asphalt surface before laying approximately 40mm of asphalt wearing course, alongside other maintenance and safety interventions.
As part of efforts to strengthen security on the bridge, the ministry said solar-powered streetlights and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras would also be installed.
The facilities, according to the ministry, would help improve security and monitor the activities of vandals on the bridge.
The ministry said the maintenance work would be carried out “day and night” to ensure its timely completion and minimise the duration of the traffic disruption.
The ministry apologised to motorists and other road users for the inconvenience the closure may cause, urging them to cooperate with the traffic management arrangements throughout the two-week repair period.
