The Federal Government has ordered the immediate installation of CCTV cameras and solar-powered streetlights on the Niger Bridge to prevent vandalism and theft of critical components of the infrastructure.
The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, issued the directive on Thursday during an on-the-spot inspection of the First and Second Niger bridges as part of his assessment of ongoing construction and maintenance activities in the area.
Umahi expressed concern over the vandalism of bolts, expansion joints and iron bars supporting the First Niger Bridge, warning that the theft of key components could pose a serious threat to the safety of the structure.
He said the planned CCTV system would provide live footage to relevant officials and security agencies, including the police, to help identify and apprehend suspected vandals.
While inspecting the bridge, the minister said the Federal Government became aware of the vandalism after members of the public raised concerns on social media.
He noted that some bolts holding the bridge had been removed and stolen, while an overhead steel bar had also been disconnected.
According to Umahi, the damaged steel component is particularly dangerous because the bridge remains under tension, making repairs more difficult.
Addressing concerns about movement on the bridge, Umahi explained that some level of movement was normal for bridges because of their bearings and structural design.
He said the First Niger Bridge currently carries considerable dead load due to the asphalt on the structure.
The minister directed the Controller of Works in Anambra State, Timothy Emenike, to immediately procure and replace the affected bolts, after which welding work would commence.
“We will fix solar streetlights and CCTV on this bridge and that will be transmitted to your phone and also linked to the police,” Umahi said.
He added that maintenance work would also begin on the bridge, with the structure expected to be closed at night while the exercise is ongoing.
The minister subsequently inspected the Second Niger Bridge, where he identified an area threatened by erosion.
Umahi ordered the immediate arrest of anyone found excavating sand around the bridge, warning that illegal sand mining could undermine the integrity of the infrastructure.
He said the government would no longer tolerate situations where major public infrastructure is constructed only for vandals and illegal operators to damage it.
Umahi directed officials to ensure that the entire bridge area is covered by surveillance cameras to strengthen security and facilitate the arrest of vandals.
He said security agencies should apprehend anyone found vandalising the bridge or engaging in unauthorised sand excavation around the structure.
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The minister also reiterated the government’s commitment to protecting critical infrastructure across the country, stressing that resources invested in major projects should not be wasted through vandalism and other illegal activities.
He expressed frustration over having to repeatedly inspect infrastructure because of damage caused by vandals, saying government officials had more productive responsibilities to attend to.
The planned combination of CCTV surveillance, solar-powered lighting and increased security monitoring is expected to strengthen the protection of both Niger bridges and deter further attacks on critical infrastructure.
