The Federal Government has ordered the opening of the Second Niger Bridge for use starting from midnight on Thursday.
The Minister of Works, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN, stated this on Wednesday, while inaugurating the bridge for use for one month during the Yuletide.
Fashola, who took a walk round the bridge during the inspection, counselled road users plying the bridge to drive safely and responsibly in order not to defeat the purpose of constructing the project.
The minister pointed out that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.)’s purpose of completing the bridge was to save lives and alleviate poverty occasioned by waste of many hours resulting from gridlock on the old First Niger Bridge.
He noted that the opening of the Second Niger Bridge would alleviate the sufferings of the motoring public who always experienced gridlock during the Yuletide.
He said it would be counterproductive if users of the bridge would become reckless and attract unnecessary mishaps upon themselves.
Fashola added that the bridge would be officially opened by 12:01am on Thursday, December 15, 2022 to January 15, 2023.
He explained that part of the money used in constructing the bridge was looted funds recovered mostly from the United States of America.
