An ongoing investigation shows that some road fittings installed on the newly commissioned Second Niger bridge have been stolen vandalised and stolen.
A source at the ministry of works confirmed this on Wednesday, stating that the expansion joint walkway on axis 330 of the bridge had been stolen.
The source further explained, “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 corroborated the report adding that supervising engineers are not happy about the incident.
On May 23, former president Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the N336 billion bridge, via an online platform, Zoom alongside seven other infrastructural projects.
The former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, announced the completion of the bridge at a briefing in October 2022 after almost five decades of failed promises by successive governments.
The Federal Government also opened the Second Niger Bridge for use on December 15, 2022 to ease traffic in the South-East during the festive period.
The Second Niger Bridge was first proposed during the 1978/79 political campaign by then-candidate Shehu Shagari of the National Party of Nigeria.
The bridge was patterned after the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, the 1.6 kilometres long bridge linking Anambra and Delta states is to decongest traffic on the existing Niger Bridge, boost economic activities, and connect the South-East with the rest of the country.
The ministry spokesperson, Blessing Adams-Lere is yet to make an official statement on the matter.