Vandals have recently stolen certain road fittings from the newly inaugurated Second Niger Bridge, according to a source from the Ministry of Works, News About Nigeria reports.
The stolen item is specifically an expansion joint walkway located at axis 330 of the bridge.
This unfortunate incident raises concerns for motorists, as the missing part could potentially cause inconvenience and discomfort while driving.
Another source has confirmed the report and expressed the dissatisfaction of supervising engineers regarding the theft.
It is indeed disheartening to witness such an incident after the successful completion and commissioning of the N336 billion bridge on May 23, where former President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated it through an online platform called Zoom.
This momentous occasion also marked the completion of seven other infrastructural projects.
The completion of the Second Niger Bridge was officially announced by the former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, during a briefing in October 2022.
The bridge’s construction had been long-awaited, with numerous unfulfilled promises by previous administrations over the course of almost five decades.
Finally, on December 15, 2022, the Federal Government opened the bridge for public use, aiming to alleviate traffic congestion in the South-East region during the festive season.
Originally proposed during the 1978/79 political campaign by then-candidate Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria, the Second Niger Bridge spans 1.6 kilometers and connects Anambra and Delta states.
Inspired by the design of Lagos’ Third Mainland Bridge, its purpose is to reduce traffic on the existing Niger Bridge, stimulate economic activities, and foster better connectivity between the South-East region and the rest of the country.
Despite attempts to obtain official confirmation from the Ministry of Works through their spokesperson, Blessing Adams-Lere, no response has been received at the time of this report.
