Commuters between Asaba and Onitsha ends in both Anambra and Delta states have continued to express their harsh economic condition following the temporal closure of 1st Niger bridge for mentainance by the Federal government.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the temporal closure of the 1st Niger Bridge to traffic for emergency maintenance commenced on Monday, September 7 with motorists diverted to the 2nd Niger Bridge.
Recall that the Federal Government had in August announced that the bridge would be closed for two weeks to enable the Federal Ministry of Works carry out maintenance and rehabilitation works aimed at restoring the structure to a safer and more durable condition.
However, our reporter gathered that the closure, which began in the early hours of Monday, September 7, saw heavy-duty construction vehicles and equipment deployed to the bridge, to prevent vehicular movement between the Asaba and Onitsha ends.
However, findings by our reporter showed that some residents of Asaba who work in Onitsha and other parts of Anambra, as well as Onitsha residents who work or do business in Asaba, are not finding it funny with the diversion of traffic to the 2nd Niger bridge.
Though the residents described the closure as necessary to avert any form of disaster that may arise from the collapse of the bridge, this has continued to take economic toll on them.
Narrating the economic impact of the closure, some commuters expressed concern over the likely consequences of the continued pressure of Owerri road, Onitsha where the road has been diverted.
WITHIN NIGERIA equally gathered that for decades now, residents of Onitsha and neighbouring communities, including Obosi, Oba, Nkpor and Oraifite, have lamented the deplorable condition of some sections of the road particularly between Upper Iweka and the Metallurgical Training Institute, MTI, Obosi, and the Electrical Market area.
Joseph Ogene is a resident is of Onitsha. He told our reporter that since the situation has not easy for the residents since Monday.
“For decades now, we have been calling on the successive administrations in this state to construct this road for us, all to no avail. Today, look at where we are. Those coming from Imo and Delta states can no longer avoid it. This time around, the traffic is heavier than it should have been.”
According to.Mr. Ogene, the diversion of additional road to already deplorable road will further worsen the situation.
Appealing to the state government, he said ” if this road is left in this condition, it will lead total cut off of other linking roads. We are appealing to the state government to come to our aid and salvage the situation.”
Kingsley Onyeabo is a motorist who plies between Onitsha and Asaba ends.
In a telephone chat with our reporter, he lamented the worsening condition of Owerri road.
In his words, “we are not finding it funny at all. Passengers are suffering it and we drivers are suffering it too. A journey that is supposed to take about 30 minutes now take one and half hours with more stress.”
According to him, “we are appealing to the government to speed up the maintenance work at 1st Niger bridge to save us from this nightmare.”
Ejike Agu, a trader who shuttles between Asaba and Onitsha also told WITHIN NIGERIA that ” we spend much now to go to Asaba or come back to Onitsha.”
In his words, ” before now, I used to spend N2000 for transportation to and fro Asaba. But today, because of closure of 1st Niger bridge, I spend an average of N3500. This is very much harsh on me. How much profit do I make? I am appealing to the government to speed up the work to avoid collapse of businesses in these states.”
However, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Command, deployed personnel to strategic locations around the Onitsha end of the bridge to manage traffic during the maintenance period.
In a statement by the command’s Public Education Officer, Margaret Onabe, the deployment was part of proactive measures to ensure effective traffic management and smooth vehicular movement for the road users throughout the two-week closure.
Findings showed that motorists were advised to use alternative routes connecting the 2nd Niger Bridge, including the Nkpor–Old Road–Obosi route, Onitsha–Owerri Road from Upper Iweka, and Atani Road through Uga Junction to Harbour Industrial Layout.
The FRSC also appealed to motorists and other road users to cooperate with personnel deployed to strategic locations.
The Anambra State Government had earlier notified residents of the closure, explaining that the rehabilitation became necessary because of the deteriorating condition of the bridge’s carriageway and damage to some of its components.
The government advised motorists to use the 2nd Niger Bridge through Obosi towards Asaba, Delta State, during the maintenance period.
Similarly, the Managing Director of ARTMA, Emeka Okonkwo, urged motorists to obey temporary road signs and diversion instructions, exercise caution around construction zones and cooperate with traffic-management personnel.
Commuters, motorists and businesses along the Onitsha–Asaba corridor are already feeling the impact of the 14-day closure of the First Niger Bridge for emergency maintenance. Traffic has been diverted through the Second Niger Bridge via the Obosi axis, resulting in longer journeys, increased transport fares and hardship for road users.
