First Niger Bridge Reopens After Repairs as Tinubu’s Pictures, APC Banners Take Centre Stage

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has reopened the First Niger Bridge linking Onitsha in Anambra State to Asaba in Delta State following the completion of rehabilitation and maintenance works.

The reopening took place on Thursday, with photographs of President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo displayed on the bridge alongside banners bearing the insignia of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Built in 1965, the bridge was closed to traffic on September 7, 2026, to allow emergency rehabilitation work initially scheduled for completion on September 21. However, persistent rainfall and other unforeseen circumstances extended the closure beyond the original deadline.

The rehabilitation became necessary following the discovery of vandalised structural components, including steelwork around the bridge's expansion joints.

Speaking during the reopening ceremony, Umahi commended the Tinubu administration for what he described as its commitment to infrastructure development in the South-East and South-South regions.

He compared the ongoing rehabilitation of major bridges across the country to the attention being given to Lagos' Third Mainland Bridge, adding that the Second Niger Bridge and other critical infrastructure were also receiving attention.

The minister expressed confidence that the Federal Government's infrastructure projects would bring further development to the South-East.

Umahi also criticised the Labour Party's 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the Obidient Movement, while declaring his support for Tinubu ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He challenged critics of the President to identify an alternative capable of delivering the level of development he attributed to the current administration.

According to Umahi, the Federal Government has approved the dualisation of the Oba-Okigwe Expressway, with plans to extend additional infrastructure projects to other parts of Anambra State.

He maintained that democracy should be measured by development and infrastructure delivery, expressing confidence that the South-East would support Tinubu in the next presidential election.

The minister acknowledged that the region did not give Tinubu substantial electoral support in the 2023 presidential election. He attributed the outcome partly to what he described as the unfavourable treatment of the South-East under former President Muhammadu Buhari's administration.

Umahi also warned against the unauthorised installation of billboards and advertisements along federal highways, insisting that individuals and organisations must obtain the necessary approval before using such locations.

During the reopening, sections of the bridge railings had been repainted, while workers continued with finishing touches. Road markings were also renewed, and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras were installed at various points along the bridge.

The display of Tinubu's photographs followed an earlier directive by Umahi during an inspection of the bridge. At the time, he ordered the removal of illegal advertisements and instructed that the President's photographs be displayed after the rehabilitation work was completed.

The minister said the display was intended to recognise what he described as Tinubu's contributions to infrastructure development in the South-East.