By agreeing to open the Second Niger Bridge; a key national infrastructure, with immense socio-economic benefits for the contiguous states and indeed the nation between Dec 15 to January 15, President Buhari has given Nigerians, Igbos most especially, the best Xmas gift.
Using the Second Niger Bridge which starts from Asaba and stretches to Oko or Obosi areas of Anambra State will save each transporter an average of 3 hours. Sometimes, travelers spend more than 3 hours inside Onitsha due to the sheer lawlessness there.
Apart from the criminal waste of time which usually occurs around Onitsha, the new bridge will protect travelers from undue harassment by street urchins and “ndi npiawa azu.” The bridge is an answer to our collective prayers as a people and as a region.
With a combined distance of 12 kilometers and costing well over N336 billion naira, the Second Niger Bridge is one of the most expensive projects in the history of Nigeria. It connects two states and acts as a strategic link between the East and the rest of Nigeria.
According to the Federal Controller of Works in Delta State; Mr. Jimoh Olawale, the Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, ordered the opening of the bridge, which is at 95 percent completion stage, to ease traffic during the Yuletide.
“As we know, during the Christmas celebration, commuters suffer hardship accessing the old Niger Bridge due to traffic jams but with this arrangement, traffic congestion on Asaba-Benin Expressway will ease.
“We have notified the state government of this arrangement and we are working with the Federal Roads Safety Corps to ensure a hitch-free vehicular movement.
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“Motorists going towards Owerri direction would divert through the access road near the old Niger Bridge to the new bridge,” the controller explained.
