By Jude Atupulazi
The Niger Bridge linking Eastern Nigeria and other parts of the country is in danger of collapsing, a former member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon Chuma Nzeribe, has warned.
Hon Nzeribe is currently a Labour Party Senatorial aspirant in Anambra State.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Nzeribe said the bridge had begun shaking again, sparking fears of an imminent collapse.
During his recent journey across the bridge to Asaba over the New Year’s holidays, Nzeribe observed the renewed shaking of the bridge, which he described as very scary.
He identified a troublesome point where the expansion valves were giving way in the mid-section of the bridge, labelling it a ‘Very dangerous development.’
Nzeribe emphasized the bridge’s strategic importance as a Federal Government-owned legacy asset, serving as a critical gateway to the South-East, South-South, and North-Central Zones of Nigeria.
He stressed that while the Anambra State Government was not responsible for repairing the damaged sections or reviewing the underwater substructures, it was imperative for the state government to seek immediate intervention from the Federal Ministry of Works to prevent a catastrophic outcome.
Drawing from his experience as Chairman of the Committee on Works in the House of Representatives, Nzeribe recalled his efforts in bringing SETRACO to conduct intermediation on the Old Niger Bridge, which, he said, saved the South-East from being cut off from the rest of the country.
The repair work involved underwater diving to survey the bridge’s substructures, revealing that steel stations had given way due to underwater erosion, causing the expansion valves to fail.
Nzeribe expressed concern that the problem had resurfaced, potentially requiring further tests to determine the cause.
He noted that the initial repair cost of N2.3 billion would likely be much higher today, possibly exceeding the scope of the Anambra State Government.
Nzeribe warned that further substantial damage could be done, if the Federal Ministry of Works failed to act promptly.
