The Second Niger Bridge has been opened to vehicular movements, Channels Television can confirm.
The bridge was open at exactly 9:50am on Thursday, December 15, 2022 despite assurances by the Federal Government that the bridge will be opened at 12am.
According to a government official who spoke to Channels Television, the delay was as a result of some little adjustments on the roads the roads linking the bridge.
The first driver to pass through the bridge, Sunday Emem, expressed his delight to Channels Television. “I feel so happy, at least it will reduce the hold-up. We’ve stayed over one hour at the other bridge,” he said.
Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), last Thursday disclosed that the Second Niger Bridge would be open to traffic from December 15, 2022, to January 15, 2023 to ease the experience of travellers during Yuletide break.
The 1.6 kilometers long bridge links Anambra and Delta states.
The Second Niger Bridge was first proposed during the 1978/79 political campaign by then-candidate Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).
However, in August 2012, the Federal Executive Council under then-President Goodluck Jonathan’s approved a contract worth N325 million for the final planning and design of the bridge.
A somewhat complicated procedure continued under President Muhammad Buhari, who first cancelled the earlier contract in August 2015. The administration, however, resumed the contract on September 1, 2018.
Credit: Channels TV
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