FG orders patrol on vandalized 2nd Niger Bridge

Following the vandalization of a fraction of second Niger Bridge also known as Muhammadu Buhari bridge by suspected scavengers, the federal government has ordered surveillance patrol of the newly constructed bridge and its surroundings by security operatives to forestall further damage.

News Band Newspaper gathered that some criminal elements vandalized the expansion joint walkway axis of the bridge and made away with some fittings.

The Director of Highways, Bridges, and Designs in the ministry, Omotayo Awosanya, stated that the incident occured a week ago on the Onitsha side of the bridge.

He said, “The expansion joint at the median walkway of the bridge at Axis 330 on the Onitsha side of the bridge was stolen on the night of Wednesday, July 5, 2023. Only one side was removed.

“We have informed the Police, DSS, and Army to include the bridge in surveillance and security operations henceforth.”

He also allayed motorists fear, adding that the expansion joints were intact on the carriageways.

The Representative Engineer controlling construction works on the bridge, Seyi Martins, condemned the vandalism and theft, saying. “Those fittings will surely be replaced. We have contacted all the security agencies, and we will beef up security around the bridge and on it.

“This is an important national asset that should be protected by all. I cannot quantify the estimated value of the items stolen, but we are working on restoring them.

“The government has done their own part by providing infrastructure; it is left for us (the people) to guard it jealously because it belongs to everybody.”

The ugly development has been condemned by concerned stakeholders considering what it took the Southeast region to draw the attention of the federal government to construct the new bridge.

Meanwhile, Anambra and Delta states governments have been advised to jointly map out ways of policing the area so as to forestall further damage to the bridge.

Kalu Idika

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