First Niger Bridge Fully Closed for Two Weeks as Federal Government Begins Emergency Repairs

The Federal Ministry of Works has fully closed the First Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State, for emergency maintenance and rehabilitation.

The closure began on Monday, September 7, 2026, and is expected to remain in place until September 21, according to the ministry.

The intervention became necessary following the deteriorating condition of sections of the bridge’s carriageway and damage to some structural components.

The ministry said some of the damage was linked to vandalism, including parts of the expansion-joint steelwork as well as stanchion and steel-truss nuts and bolts.

As part of the rehabilitation, contractors will remove the deteriorated asphalt surface and lay a new approximately 40mm asphalt wearing course.

Additional maintenance and safety works will also be carried out during the closure.

The Federal Government is also expected to install solar-powered streetlights and CCTV cameras around the bridge as part of efforts to improve security, strengthen monitoring and reduce further cases of vandalism.

During the closure, motorists travelling through the area have been directed to use the Second Niger Bridge, with traffic diverted through Obosi towards Asaba, Delta State.

The ministry said appropriate traffic management measures would be implemented throughout the rehabilitation period to reduce disruption and protect motorists, pedestrians and construction workers.

These measures include traffic diversion arrangements, road signs, safety barriers and traffic-control personnel.

Motorists travelling between Anambra and Delta states are therefore expected to plan their journeys around the diversion, particularly during peak travel periods.

The First Niger Bridge, which connects Onitsha in Anambra State with Asaba in Delta State, is one of the major transport links across the Niger River and carries significant commercial and passenger traffic between the South-East and other parts of Nigeria.

The emergency intervention is expected to address the immediate deterioration of the bridge while the additional security installations are intended to protect infrastructure from further vandalism.

The ministry has urged road users to follow the temporary traffic arrangements and cooperate with traffic-control personnel throughout the two-week closure.