The Federal Government has announced the temporary closure of the First Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State, as part of urgent rehabilitation works aimed at restoring the bridge to a safer and more efficient condition.
The Federal Ministry of Works said the bridge will be completely closed to traffic from Monday, September 7, to Monday, September 21, 2026.
The decision followed an inspection by Minister of Works, David Umahi, who expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of the bridge and directed that emergency intervention should begin immediately.
According to the ministry, sections of the carriageway have deteriorated, while some components of the bridge have been affected by vandalism. The damaged areas include portions of the expansion-joint steelwork and nuts and bolts connected to the bridge’s stanchions and steel trusses.
During the closure, motorists travelling through the corridor have been directed to use the Second Niger Bridge via Obosi towards Asaba, Delta State, and onward to their destinations.
The ministry said traffic-control personnel, safety barriers, road signs and diversion arrangements would be deployed to manage movement and protect motorists and construction workers.
The planned rehabilitation will include removing the deteriorated asphalt surface and laying a new approximately 40mm asphalt wearing course. Other works include the installation of solar-powered streetlights and CCTV cameras to improve security and deter further vandalism.
The ministry said construction activities would continue during both daytime and nighttime to speed up completion and minimise disruption.
Motorists have been advised to plan their journeys ahead, allow additional travel time, obey temporary traffic signs and follow instructions from traffic-control officers.
The closure is expected to affect commuters, businesses and other road users who regularly depend on the First Niger Bridge, one of the major transportation links connecting communities in the southeastern region with parts of the country.
The Federal Ministry of Works apologised for the temporary inconvenience, stressing that the intervention was necessary to improve the bridge’s safety, durability and traffic flow.
The First Niger Bridge, which has served as a major crossing over the Niger River for decades, remains an important transportation route between Anambra and Delta states.
