Works Minister Dave Umahi has ordered Tinubu’s pictures displayed on the First Niger Bridge while urging South-East voters not to waste votes on Peter Obi.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, has ordered the removal of illegal advertisements from the rehabilitated First Niger Bridge and their replacement with pictures of President Bola Tinubu, saying the display would recognise the President’s work on infrastructure.
Umahi gave the directive during an inspection of ongoing rehabilitation works on the bridge linking Anambra and Delta states. He said the bridge was expected to reopen to motorists next week, subject to the completion of critical structural work.
“Once we are done with work on this bridge, I want all the illegal adverts on this bridge removed. Anyone who wants to advertise should apply to the Ministry of Works. For now, the bridge will be decorated with the pictures of President Tinubu,” Umahi said.
“The President has worked so hard and we need to reward his hard work by decorating this bridge with his pictures.”
Umahi also used the occasion to make a case for Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, urging the South-East not to “throw away” its votes and challenging supporters of Nigeria Democratic Congress presidential candidate Peter Obi to identify what he had attracted to the region.
“I want to say to Ndigbo that we should not throw away our votes in 2027. In the last election we did not vote for him so well, yet he is bringing projects to our region,” the minister said.
“I have a bragging right in Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and I’m proud of him and will be willing to show anyone who wants to know all that he has done.
“Peter Obi is our brother and we do not hate him, but we need to be realistic this time. I don’t care about people abusing me on social media, they should only tell us what Obi has attracted to the South-East.”
The First Niger Bridge was closed earlier in September for emergency rehabilitation after vandalised structural components, including bolts, nuts and portions of expansion-joint steelwork, were discovered. The closure was initially scheduled to end on September 21 but was extended following persistent rainfall.
Umahi said the ministry would not be pressured into reopening the bridge before the necessary structural work was completed.
“We will be here next week to open the bridge, and I want to say that we will write to the security chiefs to tell them that there would not be need for any checkpoint 200 metres to this bridge because it causes traffic on the bridge, which is not good for its health,” he said.
He said the ministry would also write to the governors of Anambra and Delta states to seek closer monitoring of scrap markets because of concerns over vandalism of public infrastructure.
Umahi also banned dredging activities around the bridge, warning that they could compromise its structural integrity.
The minister expressed satisfaction with the rehabilitation, which includes work on CCTV cameras, streetlights, the carriageway and walkways, as well as replacement of damaged bolts and expansion joints.
“We thank the people for their patience. The bridge is not just healthier, but will last longer now and motorists will enjoy driving on it,” Umahi said.
He thanked the governments of Anambra and Delta states for their cooperation during the rehabilitation and apologised to motorists for the inconvenience caused by the closure.
“The bolts that were lost have been replaced, expansion joints have been manufactured and flown in by air and replaced. The company has done beautiful work. We will however not be stampeded to open the bridge until the full structural works have been done,” he said.
Umahi said additional work would include painting the kerbs and metal components and reconstructing the entrance and exit with concrete.
He added that only one carriageway would initially reopen, with work continuing on the other side after the concrete on the first section had attained the required strength.
The Controller of Works in Anambra State, Timothy Emenike, who conducted the minister around the project, praised Umahi’s commitment to the rehabilitation.
