Vandals have reportedly stolen road fittings from the recently inaugurated Second Niger Bridge. According to a source in the works ministry, the expansion joint walkway on axis 330 of the bridge was stolen, causing concerns among supervising engineers. The stolen fitting is an important element of the bridge’s expansion joints, and its absence may cause discomfort to motorists. The ministry spokesperson, Blessing Adams-Lere, could not be reached for official confirmation at the time of reporting.
The Second Niger Bridge, commissioned on May 23 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, is a significant infrastructure project aimed at decongesting traffic on the existing Niger Bridge, boosting economic activities, and connecting the South-East region with the rest of the country. The completion of the bridge, after decades of failed promises by previous administrations, was announced by the former Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, in October 2022. The theft of road fittings from the bridge is a setback that raises concerns about the security and maintenance of this vital infrastructure.
Further details on the theft are expected to emerge in due course as investigations continue.
