The Federal Government will close the First Niger Bridge to traffic from Friday, September 4, 2026, for rehabilitation and security upgrades, with motorists diverted to the Second Niger Bridge.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced the closure on Friday, August 28, during an inspection of federal projects around the Ogbunike interchange in Anambra State.
The works will include replacing vandalized components and installing solar-powered streetlights and closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to strengthen security around the bridge.
An inspection on Thursday, August 27, found missing bolts, expansion joints, iron bars and an overhead steel member. Umahi ordered their replacement and immediate repairs.
He said the bridge would be restored to a standard comparable with the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive.
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The security upgrade follows earlier vandalism on the Second Niger Bridge. In July 2023, shortly after its opening, vandals removed a metal plate and an expansion joint, prompting the introduction of 24-hour police surveillance in August 2023.
During Friday’s inspection, Umahi also ordered remedial work on erosion around the Second Niger Bridge and warned against illegal sand excavation near the structure.
The minister urged South-East residents to support the Tinubu administration, citing federal infrastructure projects in the region. He also called for support for President Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, arguing that continuity would sustain ongoing projects.
Umahi further assured contractors that outstanding certificates for completed federal projects would be paid.
The First Niger Bridge, completed in 1965, connects Onitsha, Anambra State, with Asaba, Delta State, and remains a key transport link between the South-East and South-South.
Traffic will move to the Second Niger Bridge when the First Niger Bridge closes on September 4.