The Federal Government is considering plans to restrict heavy-duty vehicles and trucks from using the First Niger Bridge amid persistent traffic congestion affecting motorists travelling between Anambra and Delta states.
The proposed measure involves diverting articulated vehicles and other heavy trucks to the Second Niger Bridge, which has sufficient space to accommodate heavier traffic.
The government is also considering placing barriers at both ends of the First Niger Bridge to prevent heavy-duty vehicles from gaining access.
Anambra State Federal Controller of Works, Timothy Emenike, disclosed this during an interview on Tuesday.
He explained that the Federal Ministry of Works was examining several options to address the growing traffic challenges on the bridge, particularly with the Christmas and New Year celebrations approaching.
According to him, diverting heavy-duty vehicles to the Second Niger Bridge would reduce pressure on the older bridge and create more room for smaller vehicles to move freely.
Emenike acknowledged that the government was aware of the complaints from motorists and commuters who have continued to experience long hours of traffic delays since the First Niger Bridge reopened on October 15, 2026.
He said the ministry was working towards introducing measures that would prevent further obstructions and improve movement across the busy transport route.
“The gridlock on the First Niger Bridge is noted and the ministry is exploring a lot of measures to ensure ease of traffic, especially as we approach the Yuletide season. This gridlock can be prevented if motorists are intentional.”
The controller of works blamed some of the traffic problems on the failure of drivers to properly manage vehicles that develop mechanical faults while crossing the bridge.
He argued that motorists should make efforts to move faulty vehicles away from the main carriageway instead of abandoning them in positions that prevent other road users from passing.
He maintained that a vehicle developing a fault should not automatically bring traffic to a complete standstill, provided the driver makes an effort to move it to a safer position.
“A vehicle does not just develop problem on the road, before problem occurs, it doesn’t just stop the vehicle automatically. If a vehicle is in motion and problem happens, at least the driver can narrowly clear the vehicle properly to allow other vehicles move without blocking them. But our people don’t clear off the road whenever they noticed fault on their vehicle while driving.”
Emenike also defended the road modifications introduced before the bridge was reopened. He explained that the new demarcations were designed to regulate movement and improve safety for motorists.
According to him, the ministry carried out assessments before installing the dividers and established that two vehicles could move alongside each other within the available space.
He insisted that the arrangement was capable of accommodating a heavy-duty truck and a smaller vehicle at the same time, although two large trucks could not pass simultaneously.
“We know that a heavy duty truck and a small vehicle can pass on one lane of the First Niger Bridge at the same time. But two heavy duty vehicles cannot pass at the same time on the bridge.”
The government official said the physical limitations of the First Niger Bridge made the Second Niger Bridge a more suitable alternative for large trucks.
He expressed concern that the newer bridge was not being fully utilised despite its capacity to accommodate more vehicles.
“That is why the ministry is considering diverting the heavy-duty trucks to the Second Niger Bridge that is wide enough to contain them.”
He added that the government was considering additional measures to ensure that the situation did not worsen during the approaching festive period, when traffic between the South-East, South-South and other parts of the country usually increases.
“The Second Niger Bridge is wide enough to contain all of them, but we don’t know why that place is under-utilised.”
The proposed restriction has become a major issue following repeated complaints from motorists who use the First Niger Bridge daily.
Several drivers have blamed the newly installed concrete dividers for making it difficult to manoeuvre around vehicles that break down while crossing the bridge.
They argued that the reduced road space has created a situation where a single faulty vehicle can completely obstruct movement in its lane, leaving hundreds of other road users stranded.
A driver identified as Emeka said the situation had become particularly difficult since the concrete demarcations were installed.
He explained that vehicles could no longer easily navigate around broken-down cars, buses and trucks because of the limited space available.
“Since the installation of the concrete demarcations, whenever a car, bus, or truck breaks down or stalls, it completely blocks that single lane, triggering severe traffic standstills.”
Emeka maintained that the arrangement had made it difficult for motorists to continue their journeys whenever a vehicle developed a mechanical problem.
He also questioned the absence of towing vehicles, which drivers said the authorities had earlier promised to provide at both ends of the bridge.
According to him, the availability of towing vans would help remove faulty vehicles quickly and prevent minor mechanical problems from causing hours of traffic congestion.
“The ministry promised to provide towing vans at both ends of the bridge, for easy removal of broken down vehicles, but till date, that has not been done. Each time a vehicle breaks down, other vehicles are left stranded for several hours until a solution is found.”
Another driver, a truck operator identified as Sanni, agreed that the condition of vehicles using the bridge was an important factor in preventing traffic disruptions.
He urged truck drivers to carry out proper mechanical checks before embarking on journeys, especially when travelling through the First Niger Bridge.
Sanni, however, said the authorities also needed to provide the necessary equipment to deal with emergencies.
“It is unfortunate that my colleagues still find it difficult to adapt to the new design on the bridge. I urge them to always ensure their vehicles are in order before plying the road to avoid broken down vehicle.”
He further called on the ministry to make towing services available to ensure that trucks and other vehicles could be removed without unnecessary delays whenever they developed faults.
“Whenever a heavy duty vehicle brakes down, it takes over the space on the single lane and prevents other vehicles from penetrating. However, everything boils down to the authorities. They should provide towing vans at both ends of the bridge for easy removal of broken down vehicles.”
A civil servant identified as Amaka also supported the introduction of measures to control the movement of heavy-duty vehicles on the bridge.
She acknowledged that the new demarcations were introduced to address traffic violations and improve driving discipline, particularly among commercial motorists.
However, she argued that the government needed to consider the difficulties created by the arrangement and provide a lasting solution.
“The demarcation is a good development intended to ward off bad driving habits, especially from commercial drivers. But as it is, it has been creating gridlock for motorists due to frequent broken down of vehicles.”
Amaka suggested that restricting heavy trucks from using the bridge would help prevent a situation where efforts to improve road safety end up creating additional difficulties for commuters.
She also called for barriers at both entrances to ensure that heavy-duty vehicles comply with any restrictions introduced by the government.
The renewed congestion comes after the First Niger Bridge underwent a closure lasting several weeks following the discovery of serious structural damage.
The bridge was initially shut on September 7, 2026, after the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, visited the facility and discovered extensive vandalism affecting important structural components.
The inspection reportedly revealed missing bolts, cut steel components and damage to sections of the expansion-jointed steelwork.
The discovery raised concerns about the safety of the bridge, which remains one of the most important transport connections between the South-East and South-South regions.
Following repair and rehabilitation work, the Federal Government reopened the bridge to motorists on October 15, 2026.
However, the reopening came with new road arrangements, including concrete dividers and lane demarcations intended to regulate traffic movement.
Since then, motorists have continued to complain about congestion, particularly when large trucks and other vehicles develop mechanical problems on the bridge.
The First Niger Bridge connects Onitsha in Anambra State with Asaba in Delta State. It serves as a major route for commercial transportation, passenger movement and the distribution of goods across several parts of southern Nigeria.
