Minister of Works David Umahi has said the reconstructed First Niger Bridge is expected to reopen to motorists next week after the latest phase of maintenance and structural work.
Umahi disclosed this during an inspection of the bridge after the expiration of the original two-week maintenance deadline and a subsequent one-week extension.
He said completed work included replacement of missing bolts, installation of new expansion joints, repairs to carriageways and walkways, streetlights, CCTV cameras and other structural components.
The minister said the bridge would initially reopen on one carriageway while work continued on the other side.
Umahi also said the ministry would communicate with security agencies to prevent checkpoints from being positioned too close to the bridge because of the traffic pressure they could create.
He thanked the governments of Anambra and Delta States for supporting traffic management and alternative routes during the rehabilitation period.
Umahi also warned against dredging activities around the bridge and said such activity could threaten its structural integrity.
He urged the two state governments to monitor scrap-metal markets because stolen infrastructure components often enter informal recycling channels.
The minister also ordered the removal of unauthorized advertisements from the bridge and said any future advertising would require approval from the Ministry of Works.
During the visit, Umahi made partisan political remarks praising President Bola Tinubu and criticizing support for Peter Obi ahead of the 2027 election. Those comments are political advocacy by the minister and are separate from the technical status of the bridge rehabilitation. The Controller of Works in Anambra State, Timothy Emenike, said the project had progressed substantially under the ministry’s supervision
