It is a huge shame that barely one year after the Second Niger Bridge was opened; tales of vandalism are occupying national space. Recently, Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, addressed the press on the latest act of sabotage. Umahi reacted after a patriotic citizen, simply identified as Lord Zeus, drew global attention to the activities of criminals who had a field day feasting on the facilities.

In other climes, some big heads would have been rolling in the ministry. Less than a year after the bridge was declared open by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, five suspects were arrested for vandalising it. Three more suspects who kept the stolen expansion joints were also apprehended by men of the Anambra State Police Command.

Aderemi Adeoye, who was the Anambra State Commissioner of Police at the time, beat his chest while parading the suspects. He also promised 24-hour surveillance on the 1.6-kilometre bridge which connects not just the South-East to the South-South but also makes journey to these areas less stressful.

After yet another act of sabotage, Martins Oluwaseyi, a senior engineer in the Federal Ministry of Works assured that security agencies had been informed of the dangers resulting from the development. It does appear that the alert was in vain. The Second Niger Bridge is such an important facility that no excuses should be accepted for the prevalent insecurity on it. If the police, as promised by Adeoye, cannot guarantee the safety of facilities there, it is an admission of failure.

Adeoye left Anambra as a hero, decorated by the state government and some communities for outstanding service. His departure must not be seen as the end of a safe environment. Whatever made him succeed in the task of protecting lives and property must be studied by his successor.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo has more work to do. Beyond asking the Inspector General of Police to send more men of the Federal Highway Patrol to the bridge, he should as a matter of emergency, call a meeting of traditional rulers, to discuss the situation with host communities with a view to boosting security on the critical facility.

The Anambra State governor should cross the bridge to Delta State for affirmative action with his colleague, Sheriff Oborevwori, as the two states not only bear the weight but also share in the consequences of a failed facility. Umahi’s job is defined. His experience as a Civil Engineer makes it easier to understand the risk posed by a shaky bridge.

The Federal Government cannot sit over the destruction of the much cherished second crossing to the South-East, by thieves and vandals.

Nothing untoward must happen to the bridge – especially after an estimated N336 billion of taxpayers’ money was sunk into its construction

The Works minister cannot rely solely on the police for water tight security. He has an opportunity now to involve the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). A visit to the office of the Commandant General should have some impact. Incidentally, the primary function of the Corps, which was set up in 2003, is the protection of critical national assets like pipelines and bridges.

The job of securing oil pipelines outside the creeks has shown the effective side of the NSCDC. Adding the Second Niger Bridge to their portfolio with defined roles and target objectives will be to the advantage of the government and enhance the safety of travellers who ply the bridge. We also believe that the intervention of the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, must be embraced without political colouration.

He called for the installation of reliable surveillance systems to monitor security on the bridge and should have some influence in curbing the menace of vandals. The Federal Government should not create room for guess work. It is more of propaganda to insinuate that the people who are supposed to benefit from the bridge have allowed vandals to harm the facilities. Those who ply that route believe security agencies can provide adequate security, round the clock.

The story of the Niger Bridge cannot be complete without mentioning that after the first one constructed by French construction Giants, Dumez in 1963 was destroyed during the Civil War, the Yakubu Gowon administration did not spare time in rebuilding it at the end of hostilities.

Sadly the Second Niger Bridge, which was first conceived as far back as the 70s, was drowned in the murky waters of politics, until President Muhammadu Buhari took the bold step of seeing to its success. The administration of the former President officially kick started the project on September 1, 2018 and was finally completed on May 23, 2023.

President Bola Tinubu must also show that the era of victimisation through the bridge remains in the past. Nothing untoward must happen to the bridge – especially after an estimated N336 billion of taxpayers’ money was sunk into its construction.

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