On Thursday, Nigeria’s Minister of Works, [David Umahi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Umahi), officially reopened the [First Niger Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Niger_Bridge) that connects Onitsha in Anambra State with Asaba in Delta State, after a rehabilitation programme, with the structure now displaying photographs of President [Bola Tinubu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bola_Tinubu) and other officials.
**Why was the bridge closed?**
The bridge, constructed in 1965, was shut to traffic on 7 September 2026 for emergency maintenance that was initially slated to finish on 21 September. Persistent rainfall and unforeseen complications forced the deadline to be extended.
**What prompted the rehabilitation?**
During the inspection, engineers uncovered vandalised structural elements, notably damaged steelwork around the expansion joints, necessitating comprehensive repairs.
**What did the minister say about the President’s role?**
At the ceremony, Umahi lauded the Tinubu administration for its dedication to infrastructure development across the South‑East and South‑South zones, stating that the effort mirrors the attention given to Lagos’s Third Mainland Bridge and the ongoing work on the Second Niger Bridge.
"I am not into regional politics; I am following who is performing. Can anybody give us the alternative to Tinubu, President Tinubu, who has salvaged the country from a catastrophic situation? Can Peter Obi do what Tinubu is doing?" Umahi asked, criticizing the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the Obidient Movement while expressing confidence in the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 elections.
**What future projects are planned?**
Umahi indicated that federal infrastructure projects will soon extend to other parts of Anambra State, citing the President’s approval of the dualisation of the Oba‑Okigwe Expressway. He emphasized that “democracy is about development and infrastructure” and that the South‑East stands firmly behind President Tinubu.
**How did the 2023 election influence his remarks?**
The minister acknowledged that the South‑East did not overwhelmingly support Tinubu in the 2023 presidential vote, attributing the outcome to perceived neglect under former President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure, but expressed optimism that the region will back Tinubu in the upcoming 2027 poll.
**What about billboard regulations?**
Umahi warned that no individual or group may erect billboards on federal highways without proper authorization, adding, “Tell Peter Obi and the Obidient Movement that if they pay, they will be allowed to put their billboards on the highways.”
The reopening ceremony featured photographs of President Tinubu, Vice‑President Kashim Shettima and Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo, alongside APC banners on the bridge railings. Some railings had been repainted, road markings refreshed, and CCTV cameras installed at various points, complementing other finishing works.
Earlier, during an inspection, Umahi ordered the removal of illegal advertisements from the bridge and instructed that Tinubu’s images be displayed once rehabilitation was complete, describing the display as recognition of the President’s contributions to infrastructure development in the South‑East.