The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, led the reopening ceremony on Thursday, October 15, in the presence of federal and state government officials, as well as traditional rulers from Anambra and Delta states.
Built in 1965, the bridge was closed on September 7 for emergency rehabilitation after authorities discovered severe structural vandalism, including damage to the steelwork around its expansion joints.
Although the bridge was initially scheduled to reopen on September 21, the closure was extended due to heavy rainfall and unforeseen engineering challenges encountered during the repair work.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at the Onitsha end of the bridge, Umahi commended President Bola Tinubu for his administration’s infrastructure development efforts in the South-East and South-South regions.
The minister also called on residents to support the President’s administration, referencing the forthcoming January 16, 2027, presidential election.
Acknowledging that some supplementary maintenance work was still outstanding, Umahi emphasised that both regions were benefiting from the Federal Government’s infrastructure projects.
“What other regions are getting, the people of the South-South and South-East are getting it. And so, why should we not appreciate the President?” he said before formally declaring the bridge open to traffic.
