Men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), led by its Onitsha Unit Commander, Mr Anthony Chukwuemeka Metah, at the weekend slept for two weeks on the Niger Bridge in Onitsha, Anambra State.
They faced an unusual traffic gridlock, which they battled for days without much success.
This followed the fear that the bridge might collapse, if the heavy traffic on it was not properly controlled.
It was learnt that while the gridlock persistent, petty criminals had a field day.
They reportedly snatched commuters’ mobile phones and ran way before anyone could pursue them, especially in the night.
The Nation reports that since Saturday, there has been a traffic gridlock on the bridge.
The traffic jam began when Southeast indigenes, who had gone home for the Yuletide, were returning to the Southwest and other parts of the country.
A combined team of FRSC and security agencies, including the Army, battled everyday to manage the situation.
The rescue mission was on the order of Anambra State Sector Commander of the FRSC, Mr Hyginus Omeje.
The FRSC chief led his men from Awka, Nnewi, Ihiala and Igboukwu to rescue the gridlock at Onitsha. He left the scene at 10pm.
The traffic jam started few days to Christmas when traders were making last minute shopping at the popular Onitsha Market.
Holiday makers had hectic time passing through the bridge, despite the increased patrol by the FRSC men.
Speaking with The Nation yesterday, Metah said: “We are still here and the traffic is still heavy. But we are battling to control it. It is indeed hectic. We have been here since Christmas.
“Remember what we have here is go slow and not a hold-up. Vehicles are moving slowly and progressively. We decided to make the Niger Bridge one way traffic to avoid a heavy load on top of the bridge to avoid its collapse. There is fear everywhere that the bridge is weak and can collapse. Besides, there is heavy traffic on the road. Since this place is a major gateway, we are careful to avoid cutting it off by the likely collapse of the bridge, until a second Niger Bridge is built.”
“We did the one way traffic at a time because, if there is multiple lane traffic and there exists a lock jam on the bridge, nobody knows what will happen to Nigerians on the bridge. Besides, it’s bad to image what would happen if a truck breaks down in the middle of the bridge, since it is the one mobility exit corridor from Onitsha from the numerous entry points. So, it was a big traffic management approach…”
The Secretary Awka North Local Government, Paul Nnatuanya, blamed the gridlock on people driving against traffic.
He said: “We are here because of poor judgment of people who drive against the traffic. I have been here for four hours and what I noticed is that our people have been misbehaving. If not for what Governor Peter Obi did, by making the road motorable following an appeal to the Federal Government, people would have been here for days. We thank Obi and the members of the FRSC and other security officials for easing the traffic.
“We are appealing to the Federal Government, under President Goodluck Jonathan, to hasten the construction of the second Niger Bridge. This will enable commuters, who have nothing to do in Onitsha, to pass through Ogbaru –Ihiala and go their way instead of causing confusion in Onitsha.”
The Nation reports that the Federal Government, on August 3, 2005, awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the Niger Bridge for N2.4 billion.
The repairs were carried out in the nights but the bridge is still believed to be weak and needs another to complement its load.
President Goodluck Jonathan promised, during his presidential visit to Anambra State last October, that his administration would build a second Niger Bridge.
Last week, former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu invited the President to pass through the bridge to see firsthand the traffic chaos travellers experience there.
