The Federal Government has banned sand mining within a 10-kilometre radius of the River Niger to protect the First and Second Niger Bridges.
The Minister of Works, Mr. David Umahi, disclosed this on Friday, January 16, in Asaba during the commissioning of the Second Niger Bridge Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras Monitoring Centre.
Umahi said the decision was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) as part of efforts to safeguard critical federal infrastructure across the country.
He explained that tolling on the Second Niger Bridge would not commence until all access roads on the Anambra and Delta sections of the bridge are completed.
According to the minister, the newly commissioned CCTV monitoring centre is designed to enhance security along the federal highway and ensure swift response to emergencies.
“The tollgate is ready, but we will not begin tolling until the access and bypass roads leading to the bridge are completed,” Umahi said.
He added that security operations on the bridge would rely on surveillance technology rather than physical checkpoints.
“There will be no security checkpoints on the road. Police and other security agencies will operate from the CCTV monitoring centre and provide rapid response to emergencies within five minutes,” he said.
Umahi also directed the Delta State Police Command to enforce the ban on sand mining and ensure the arrest of offenders.
