The Federal Government has disclosed that the Second Niger Bridge will only be open to traffic from December 15, 2022, to January 15, 2023.
Babatunde Fashola, the minister of works and housing, made this known while answering questions from journalists in Abuja on Thursday, December 8, 2022.
The minister said the Federal Government is taking the measure to relieve pressure from the bridge currently used for the Christmas festivities.
He said that even though the construction of the bridge has been completed, work is still ongoing on the road linking the bridge to the major highway.
Fashola said, “We have completed work on the bridge, so if you go there now you can walk from one end of the bridge to the other or drive from one end of the bridge to the other but the connecting road that links that bridge to the main highway, is what we want to finish.
“What delayed us is rain and the stop work orders on Mondays in that part of the country.
“The President approved that since the bridge is finished that we should create a access road so that during Christmas you can begin to experience what it would feel like plying the bridge.
“It would be open for traffic going from the West to the East from the 15th December, 2022 to 15th January 2023.
“Let me be clear again: we haven’t finished construction work but we would open it for people to use to relive the pressure from the one bridge, it wouldn’t be available for heavy duty trucks, it would only be small vehicles for now until we finish our work.
“On the 15th January we would reverse that movement for those coming from the east to the west. We have told all the contractors that they shouldn’t open anymore sections for construction i.e. there shouldn’t be any barrier on the roads this season.”
Tragedy In Onitsha: 4 Street Hawkers Dead As Truck Crashes New Niger Bridge
At least four persons said to be hawkers around the Onitsha axis of the Niger bridge were on Thursday, October 27, 2022, killed in an accident.
A source said the accident occurred when a truck moving from Onitsha to Asaba suddenly developed brake failure, causing it to run into the traffic, smashing vehicles.
Though a number of vehicles were involved in the accident, a source said hawkers in the area were the worst hit as they lost four persons.
The source said: “The truck lost its brake and ran into the traffic, smashing several vehicles.
“It smashed an Asaba-Onitsha bound Mitsubishi L300 at Onitsha, Niger Bridge. The truck failed brake and at least four persons, all hawkers were killed.”
As of the time of filing this report, the accident has not been confirmed by the Anambra command of the federal road safety commission.
Outrage As Presidency Announces 2nd Niger Bridge Will Be Named After Buhari
Bashir Ahmad, the personal assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media, on Thursday, February 10, 2022, said the Second Niger Bridge is named after President Muhammadu Buhari, and not his predecessor, Goodluck Jonathan, sparking debates on social media.
Taking to Twitter, the Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media, shared a video of the 1.6km bridge, describing it as a major connection point between two economically vital regions in Nigeria.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Muhammadu Buhari Bridge (MBB), a 1.6KM Bridge that will be a major connection point between two economically vital regions in Nigeria,” he tweeted.
The tweet, however, didn’t go down well with some users as one, @Arizona_CF, said, “The name is 2nd Niger bridge. Any other name doesn’t stand a chance.”
Another user, @Greenaetion also said, “It is not Muhammadu Buhari Bridge and it can never be. It wasn’t Buhari who initiated the project nor did he use his salary to construct the Bridge. That’s 2nd Niger Bridge or Southern Link Bridge.”
In defence of his principal, Ahmad responded saying, “So, can we call it Goodluck Jonathan Bridge for sketching the bridge? The bridge is to be called ‘Muhammadu Buhari Bridge’, read the name again and let it sink in your head.”
Ladies and gentlemen, the Muhammadu Buhari Bridge (MBB), a 1.6KM Bridge that will be a major connection point between two economically vital regions in Nigeria. pic.twitter.com/CxZHCD3iYj
— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) February 10, 2022
So, can we call it Goodluck Jonathan Bridge for sketching the bridge? The bridge is to be called “Muhammadu Buhari Bridge”, read the name again and let it sink in your head. https://t.co/m9IAnuHc2B
— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) February 10, 2022
The Second Niger Bridge is being constructed to ease the burden on the Niger Bridge which links Onitsha and Asaba.
