Days after 4,000-influencer proposal, Umahi orders Tinubu’s pictures on Niger Bridge

Minister of Works David Umahi has again stirred reactions on social media, days after announcing plans by the Federal Government (FG) to engage 4,000 influencers to promote President Bola Tinubu’s achievements.

Mr Umahi sparked another online buzz after directing the South-East and South-South Senior Special Assistants to Mr Tinubu to beautify and colour the First Niger Bridge with his photographs.

The bridge, which connects Onitsha in Anambra State to Asaba in Delta State, is currently closed for rehabilitation after vandals removed several important structural components.

The damage included the removal of bolts and nuts, as well as parts of the steelwork forming the bridge’s expansion joints. Authorities consequently shut the bridge earlier this month.

Although officials initially planned to reopen the bridge on September 21, continued rainfall forced them to extend the closure for another week.

PREMIUM TIMES obtained a viral video of Mr Umahi inspecting the ongoing repairs on Wednesday.

He also instructed them to clear all illegal advertisements from the infrastructure, explaining that displaying the president’s pictures would serve as recognition of his “good works”.

He said: “All the illegal advertisements on the bridge should be removed. If anyone wants to advertise anything, they have to apply to the Ministry of Works.

“In the meantime, the south-south and south-east SSA to Mr President would have to fertilise the bridge, they’ll beautify, they’ll colour it with the president’s pictures because the president deserves to be appreciated for the quick intervention and the quality of work that he is doing in this place.”

CCTV

Mr Umahi said he has directed the provision of additional solar lighting on the bridge and ordered officials to conclude the installation of CCTV cameras.

He also announced the formation of a committee to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the bridge, covering both the sections above and below the water.

“I’ve directed that additional solar lights should be installed and the CCTV should be completed and linked to the Second Niger Bridge immediately.

“I’ve also set up a committee to go and do an empirical evaluation of what is happening below the water level and above the water level under this bridge. And they will report to me before the end of work tomorrow”, the minister said.

Reopen

He further announced that the bridge will reopen to traffic next week after contractors complete essential rehabilitation work on the major route connecting Anambra and Delta States.

According to him, SKECC had made considerable progress on the repairs, replacing the vandalised bolts and securing them properly.

He said the specialised expansion joint removed from the bridge by vandals had also been produced and shipped to Nigeria for installation.

The minister said the bridge will only reopen once safety requirements have been fully met.

He consequently directed SKECC to undertake additional work, including repainting the structural elements, caps and inner carriageway sections.