2nd Niger Bridge officially opens to motorists for yuletide; Ohanaeze commends feat

Movement of vehicles started on the Second Niger Bridge after it was officially opened at exactly 9:50 am on Thursday, December 15, 2022.

Since the opening of the bridge, some motorists have made positive comments, expressing the relief they have while thoroughfare the road.

One of the motorists who was also the first driver to hit the bridge, Sunday Emem while speaking to Channels Television said, “I feel so happy, at least it will reduce the hold-up. We’ve stayed over one hour at the other bridge.”

The second driver Obinna Eze to pass through the bridge urged the Buhari administration to complete it before May 2023.

“It is a reality, though it is not 100% complete, so far what we are seeing is impressive. We commend the present administration and we hope they complete it based on the time frame,” Eze said.

In reaction to the development, Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola (SAN), last Thursday revealed that the Second Niger Bridge would be open to traffic from December 15, 2022, to January 15, 2023, to ease the experience of travelers during Yuletide break.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, on Friday, applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for completing the Second Niger Bridge before the expiration of his tenure.

They described the bridge as a key national infrastructure, with immense socio-economic benefits not only for the contiguous states but for the entire nation’.

Ohanaeze made the commendation in a release by its national publicity secretary, Dr Alex Ogbonnia.

According to Ogbonnia, “The clamour for a Second Niger bridge became necessary shortly after the Nigerian Civil War. The first Niger Bridge was commissioned in 1965, and shortly after, the Nigerian Civil War broke out in 1967.

“The bridge was therefore not exempted from the devastating effects of the war.

The Second Niger Bridge has been a major concern to the Igbo for over fifty years because of two major reasons: apart from the traffic jam on top of the bridge, the greatest fear was that the bridge had evidence of cracks such that the stress of weights on the bridge could collapse all the vehicles and their contents into the River Niger with untold consequences.