By Tony Okafor, Awka
The Federal Government has ordered security operatives to step up surveillance patrols around the Second Niger Bridge and its surroundings so as to stop further vandalism on the newly constructed bridge.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing,Mr Mahmuda Mamman, stated this while inspecting the bridge.
The Federal Government had on July 12 raised the alarm that the N336bn bridge was already been vandalised barely one month after it was opened in May by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
While speaking during the inspection of the bridge on Monday, Mamman said, “We came here purposely to see the level of vandalism, and to also interface with the people and take the necessary measures to avoid recurrence.
“We have also interfaced with the contractor handling the project, Julius Berger, and I must say it is really 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.”
Mamman, while condemning the removal of some metal components from the bridge by vandals, stressed that the host communities must get involved as the protection of national assets could not be left to the security agencies alone.
The Second Niger Bridge is a key national infrastructure, with immense socio-economic benefits for the contiguous states and indeed the entire nation.
