According to an exclusive report, vandals have stolen certain road fittings from the recently inaugurated Second Niger Bridge.
A source within the works ministry confirmed the theft on Wednesday, revealing that the expansion joint walkway on axis 330 of the bridge had been taken.
The source said, “Unfortunately, It’s true. The stolen fitting is an element from the expansion joints of the bridge. Drivers on that road have to be careful as the damaged part can cause discomfort to motorists.”
The report further states that the supervising engineers are not pleased with the incident.
It is worth noting that on May 23, the ex-president, Muhammadu Buhari, officially inaugurated the N336 billion bridge, along with seven other infrastructure projects, through an online platform called Zoom.
The former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, announced the successful completion of the bridge during a briefing in October 2022. This achievement came after several administrations had made unfulfilled promises over nearly five decades.
Additionally, on December 15, 2022, the Federal Government officially opened the Second Niger Bridge to alleviate traffic congestion in the South-East region during the festive season. Shehu Shagari, a candidate of the National Party of Nigeria, first proposed the concept of the Second Niger Bridge during his 1978–79 political campaign.
The 1.6-kilometer-long bridge connecting Anambra and Delta states is inspired by Lagos’ Third Mainland Bridge. Its purpose is to alleviate 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 get in touch with Blessing Adams-Lere, the Ministry spokesperson, for an official statement, no answer was received before the article was published.
