Victor Ezeja
The Nigerian government, through the Federal Ministry of Works, has fixed sections of the second Niger Bridge such as the railings and expansion joints destroyed by vandals.
Mr Uchenna Orji, Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, made this known in a statement on Monday.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelPrime Business Africa recalls that a video which went viral recently, made by an Anambra-born social influencer, known as Lord Zeus, had shown some parts of the bridge railings and metal objects fixed at expansion joints used to absorb thermal expansion were vandalised by criminals. The Federal Ministry of Works responded immediately and moved to repair the vandalised parts.
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According to Orji, the ministry is working in collaboration with the police and other security agencies to tighten security around the bridge to prevent further vandalisation of this critical infrastructure.
Umahi’s media aide said the Federal Government has put measures in place to stop further incidents of vandalism and theft of facilities on the bridge and other public infrastructure nationwide.
He added that the Federal Government has placed bounties on the vandals and their collaborators.
Orji said the works minister urged residents, and authorities within the vicinity of the Second Niger Bridge, to be vigilant and watch out for persons who vandalised the facility.
Apart from the main bridge, he mentioned other structures that should be watched over which include “the two secondary bridges of 21.7 m each on Amakon village road, the cloverleaf interchange at Onitsha-Owerri road, and the approach roads between Asaba, Delta State, and Onitsha, Anambra State.”
He said the ministry equally called on residents to reports persons found to be vandalising the structures to the nearest police station or “call our hotlines: 08030986263 (SA Media), 08033389700 (Controller of Works, FMW Anambra State), 08067736638 (Controller of Works, FMW Delta State) or 08037056860 (Director Highways, Bridges and Design FMW).
“The Federal Ministry of Works shall promptly and handsomely reward any person or group who nabs or gives useful information on the identity of perpetrators or vandals of facilities on the second Niger bridge,” he added.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with seven years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Master's degree in Mass Communication.
