The bridge was open at exactly 9:50am on Thursday, December 15, 2022 despite assurances by the Federal Government that the bridge will be opened at 12am.

According to a government official who spoke to Channels Television, the delay was as a result of some little adjustments on the roads the roads linking the bridge.

The first driver to pass through the bridge, Sunday Emem, expressed his delight to Channels Television. “I feel so happy, at least it will reduce the hold-up. We’ve stayed over one hour at the other bridge,” he said.

Obinna Eze, the second driver to pass through the bridge, urged the present 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.

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

The 1.6 kilometers long bridge links Anambra and Delta states.

The Second Niger Bridge was first proposed during the 1978/79 political campaign by then-candidate Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).

However, in August 2012, the Federal Executive Council under then-President Goodluck Jonathan’s approved a contract worth N325 million for the final planning and design of the bridge.

A somewhat complicated procedure continued under President Muhammad Buhari, who first cancelled the earlier contract in August 2015. The administration, however, resumed the contract on September 1, 2018.

sarrki:
The

SmartPolician:
When are they going to install the tolllgate?

Nigeria needs to start tolling all its Trunk A roads and bridges so they can use the money generated from there to maintain it.

However, the toll shouldn't be more than #200 per vehicle.

Lekki-Ajah Expressway is the best road in Lagos - thanks to tollgate.

Corrinthians:
Wasted resources.

We Igbos don't need this. Jubrin el Sudani should take this rubbish bridge which won't allow the free flow of big container vessels through Biafran states down to his Northern brothers.

The bridge is even tolled. Our next Endsars campaign will begin from that tollgate, just like the Lekki toll gate and when Biafra is realised we will dismantle the useless bridge that is nothing but a bribery for Ndigbo to participate in the zoo election.