BREAKING: Second Niger Bridge vandalised, road fittings stolen

BREAKING: Second Niger Bridge vandalised, road fittings stolen

Vandals have reportedly stolen some of the road fittings that were installed on the recently inaugurated Second Niger Bridge.

A source from the Ministry of Works confirmed that the incident happened on Tuesday, adding that the extension joint walkway on axis 330 of the bridge had really been stolen.

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.”

Another source who spoke with our correspondent confirmed the development, saying the incident had not gone over well with the supervisory engineers.

READ ALSO:

• Actress Cynthia Okereke dies at 63
• Fuel smuggling persists despite subsidy removal, says Customs ACG
• Hackers attack website of Ogun State government
• NECO releases 2023 common entrance results

Recall that on May 23, the Ex-president Muhammadu Buhari commission the N336 billion bridge along with seven other infrastructure projects using the online platform Zoom.

After over 50 years of broken promises by various administrations, the bridge was finally completed in October 2022, according to the former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola.

The Federal Government also opened the Second Niger Bridge on December 15, 2022, to help with holiday traffic in the South-East.

Shehu Shagari, a candidate for the National Party of Nigeria in 1978–1979, first suggested building the Second Niger Bridge during that year’s political campaign.

The 1.6-kilometer-long bridge connecting the states of Anambra and Delta, which was designed after Lagos’ Third Mainland Bridge, will relieve traffic on the country’s current Niger Bridge, spur economic growth, and link the South-East to the rest of the country.

Efforts to reach the ministry spokesperson, Blessing Adams-Lere, for official confirmation, proved abortive, as phone calls were not responded to as of press time.

BREAKING: Second Niger bridge vandalised, road fittings stolen

Details shortly…