To prevent additional vandalism, the Federal Government has directed security services to increase patrols near the second Niger Bridge and its surrounds.
Mr Mahmuda Mamman, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, revealed this on Monday in Asaba while visiting the vandalised bridge.
“We came here on purpose to see the level of vandalism, as well as to interact with the people and take the necessary precautions to prevent recurrence.”
“We have also communicated with the project’s contractor, Julius Berger, and I must say it is very unfortunate.”
“We have, however, engaged and written to security agencies, asking them to intensify surveillance activities along the bridge so that this does not happen again,” he said.
The permanent secretary also urged host communities in Anambra and Delta states to raise awareness and advocate against the bridge’s vandalism.
Mamman denounced vandals for removing some metal components from the bridge, but added that protecting national assets should not be entrusted solely to security services.
“The host communities have a role to play in this as well,” he added.
The bridge, according to the permanent secretary, is a gigantic facility built by the Federal Government to facilitate the movement of goods and services for Nigerians.
“The federal government has done exactly what it was expected to do.
“However, the host communities must also protect and safeguard the bridge, because safeguarding and protecting national assets is a collective responsibility.”
“We also believe that as soon as the ministers are appointed, they will embark on sensitisation/advocacy visits to the two governors of Anambra and Delta in order for them to own the project.”
Mamman commented on some of the obstacles to project completion, saying, “One of the obstacles to project completion is a security challenge.”
“With the recent development, we are hoping that with the contractor’s commitment, everything about the second Niger bridge will be completed in the next three months.”
Mr Omotayo Awosanya, Director, Highways, Bridge, and Design, for his part, lamented the incidence of vandalism and asked the host communities to take ownership of the project by conserving and protecting it.
He stated that the project’s immediate benefactors are the host communities, and that the bridge will not only improve the volume of trade in the area, but will also increase the people’s sources of income.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), former President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated the bridge connecting Asaba and Onitsha in Delta and Anambra on May 23.
However, the bridge’s metal components have been vandalised since then. (NAN)
