The Federal Government has announced the temporary closure of the First Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State, for two weeks to enable emergency rehabilitation and maintenance works.
The Federal Ministry of Works, Anambra State Field Headquarters, said the bridge would be shut to traffic from Monday, September 7, 2026, with reopening scheduled for Monday, September 21, 2026.
The Acting Federal Controller of Works in the state, Timothy Emenike, disclosed this in a statement issued on Friday, explaining that the closure was necessary to address the deteriorating condition of the bridge and ensure its safety and proper functionality.
The First Niger Bridge provides a major link between Anambra and Delta states.
Emenike advised motorists and other road users to use the Second Niger Bridge through Obosi towards Asaba, Delta State, and other destinations beyond during the period of the closure.
He said traffic diversion measures, including road signs, safety barriers, traffic-control personnel and other safety arrangements, would be put in place to regulate movement and protect motorists, construction workers and members of the public.
According to the statement, the bridge has suffered deterioration, particularly along its carriageway, while some components have also been affected by vandalisation.
It noted that portions of the expansion-joint steelwork, as well as stanchion and steel-truss nuts and bolts, were among the affected components.
The statement read, “The attention of the general public, motorists and other road users is hereby drawn to the deteriorated condition of the First Niger Bridge, Onitsha, particularly the carriageway surface and certain bridge components affected by vandalisation, including portions of the expansion-joint steelwork and stanchion/steel truss nuts and bolts.
“During his recent working visit to Anambra State, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, expressed serious concern over the condition of the bridge and directed the immediate commencement of emergency maintenance and rehabilitation works to restore the facility to a safe and properly motorable condition.
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“Accordingly, Messrs SKECC, the contractor handling the Km 0+000 – Km 20+000 section of the Onitsha-Enugu Dual Carriageway, has been directed to immediately commence emergency maintenance works on the First Niger Bridge.”
The ministry said the rehabilitation would include removing the existing damaged asphalt surface and replacing it with an approximately 40mm asphalt wearing course.
Other maintenance and safety-related works will also be undertaken as part of the intervention.
The Federal Government further plans to install solar-powered streetlights and closed-circuit television cameras on the bridge, alongside the deployment of traffic-control and diversion infrastructure.
Emenike said the intervention was aimed at providing a safer and more durable road surface, improving movement across the bridge and easing the traffic challenges currently associated with the First Niger Bridge corridor.
The ministry said construction activities would take place both during the day and at night to speed up completion and limit the period of disruption.
It reiterated its directive that motorists should use the Second Niger Bridge via Obosi and Asaba as the preferred alternative throughout the closure.
Motorists were also urged to comply with temporary traffic signs and diversion instructions, exercise caution around construction areas, reduce their speed, avoid reckless overtaking and obey instructions from traffic-control personnel and security agencies.
They were advised to make allowances for additional travel time and plan their journeys ahead of time.
The ministry appealed to road users, residents, businesses and other stakeholders affected by the temporary closure to cooperate with the traffic-management arrangements.
It said the temporary inconvenience was regrettable but necessary in the public interest to return the First Niger Bridge to a safer and more efficient condition while improving traffic flow along the important transportation corridor.