The two-week closure of the First Niger Bridge linking Onitsha, Anambra State, to Asaba, Delta State, began on Monday, forcing thousands of commuters and transport operators to adjust to alternative routes and higher transportation costs.
The Federal Government had last week ordered the temporary closure of the bridge to traffic from September 7 to 21, 2026, to enable it to carry out repair works on the decades-old bridge.
The maintenance became necessary following the vandalisation of some equipment on the bridge.
As a result of the closure, the Ministry of Works advised motorists to use identified alternative routes connecting to the Second Niger Bridge, including the Nkpor–Old Road–Obosi route, the Onitsha–Owerri Road from Upper Iweka, and the Atani Road through Uga Junction to Harbour Industrial Layout, depending on their destinations.
Our correspondent, who went round the bridge on Monday, observed an empty bridge barricaded to traffic, with heavy construction vehicles and equipment, including caterpillars, deployed for the maintenance work.
