The reopening of the First Niger Bridge has been delayed as persistent rainfall disrupts ongoing maintenance and rehabilitation works on the ageing structure.
The two-week closure period was scheduled to end today, but motorists will have to wait longer before vehicular movement resumes.
The Acting Federal Controller of Works, Anambra Field Headquarters, Timothy Emenike, disclosed this in a telephone conversation, saying the rehabilitation works had not been completed.
According to Emenike, some sections of the ongoing reconstruction were affected and washed away by heavy rainfall.
He appealed to commuters and other road users for patience, explaining that the weather had made it difficult for workers to complete the remaining finishing works.
Emenike said three consecutive days of sunshine would provide the window needed to complete the outstanding works and prepare the bridge for safe reopening.
The delay follows two weeks of complete restriction of vehicular movement on the bridge, during which motorists have largely relied on the Second Niger Bridge and other alternative routes.
The closure has resulted in longer journeys and increased transport costs for commuters, while road users have also faced difficulties navigating the alternative routes.
With the rains persisting, attention has shifted from the original reopening date to completing the rehabilitation works before traffic is restored.
The state government had earlier announced that the bridge would be closed from September 7 to 21, 2026, to allow the Federal Ministry of Works to carry out emergency maintenance and rehabilitation aimed at improving the bridge’s safety and durability.
