The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Sector Command, and the Anambra State Traffic Management Agency (ARTMA) have intensified preparations ahead of the temporary closure of the First Niger Bridge, announcing the deployment of personnel and alternative traffic routes to ease movement during the two-week exercise.
The bridge is scheduled to be closed from September 7 to 21, 2026, to allow for maintenance works, with the Second Niger Bridge serving as the major alternative route for motorists travelling between Anambra and Delta states.
In a statement on Sunday, the FRSC Sector Commander, Corps Commander Bridget Asekhauno, disclosed that personnel have been deployed to strategic locations across Onitsha and its environs as part of proactive measures to ensure effective traffic management, smooth vehicular movement and the safety of road users throughout the closure period.
She spoke following a working visit and road audit conducted along key routes linking the Second Niger Bridge.
The exercise involved officials of the Federal Ministry of Works in Anambra and Delta states, FRSC operations personnel, and the Anambra State Traffic Management Agency.
According to Asekhauno, the road audit assessed the readiness of alternative routes and identified areas requiring urgent intervention to minimise traffic congestion and reduce the risk of road crashes during the closure.
She advised motorists heading towards Delta State to use designated diversion routes, including the New Parts Flyover–Nkpor Roundabout–Obosi–Second Niger Bridge corridor and the Upper Iweka Flyover–Owerri Road–Oba–Second Niger Bridge route.
FRSC also identified the Nkpor–Old Road–Obosi route, the Onitsha–Owerri Road from Upper Iweka, and the Atani Road through Uga Junction to Harbour Industrial Layout as viable alternatives for road users.
In a related development, ARTMA, in a travel advisory issued on Sunday, urged motorists already within the First Niger Bridge axis to safely retrace their movement to the Upper Iweka Flyover and connect to the Second Niger Bridge through the approved diversion routes.
The agency said its officers would be strategically stationed at major diversion points, while temporary road signs would be installed to guide motorists and ensure smooth traffic flow throughout the period.
Both agencies appealed to road users to cooperate with traffic officials, obey road signs and directives, avoid indiscriminate parking, and exercise patience while using the alternative routes.
Asekhauno assured the public that FRSC, in collaboration with ARTMA and other stakeholders in Anambra and Delta states, was fully prepared to manage traffic and respond promptly to emergencies during the bridge closure.
She urged motorists to plan their journeys ahead, comply with traffic regulations and avoid dangerous driving practices to ensure a safe and seamless movement of traffic throughout the period.
ARTMA MD (On White) and the FRSC Anambra State Sector Commander during the visit
