Delta, Anambra Govts Head For A Clash Over Niger-Bridge Barricade

The Government of Delta and Anambra States may be heading for a clash over enforcement of COVID-19 directive on restriction of movement across the Niger bridge.

Anambra Government had recently erected an iron gate barricade across the Asaba end of the Niger bridge as part of measure to halt the spread of coronavirus to the state.

The state government was said to have shut down the bridge to motorists coming from Asaba to Onitsha at the wake of the coronavirus inter-states lockdown.

BIGPEN recalls that Governor Willie Obiano had in late March in a statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu, announced the closure of Onitsha Bridge head with immediate effect and directed security agencies to implement the order.

The statement reads: “This is to notify Ndi Anambra and motorists in the state, and those wishing to pass through Anambra state that the Government of Delta state has announced closure of all its land borders with effect from Sunday, 29th of March, 2020.

“Motorists are advised not to travel through the Niger Bridge Head, Onitsha to avoid putting pressure on the bridge. Motorists will not be able to drive into Delta state as a result of the border closure order in place.

“The government of Anambra state is also announcing the closure of Onitsha Head bridge with immediate effect to discourage vehicles queuing up on the bridge. The security agencies are hereby directed to enforce this. The statement, however added that only vehicles transporting food items and medicines will be allowed to pass the Niger Bridge head.

But the development had caused total restriction to movement of persons, including goods and those in essentials duties across the Niger Bridge.

A source said that the development, had caused heavy gridlock for heavy duty vehicles and other road users stretching from the Head bridge all the way to Koka Junction in Asaba, the Delta capital.

Traffic flow is heavily detorted at the Asaba end of the bridge down to Koka junction, a situation which makes it difficult for motorists coming from both Agbor and Ughelli-Ogwashi-Uku axis to make their way to the junction, a source said.

Miffed by the development, a Delta state Government COVID-19 Taskforce on Boundary Enforcement, on Saturday stormed the head-bridge and ‘pulled down’ the iron barricade erected on the Asaba-end of the Niger bridge by the Anambra State Government.

The Delta taskforce which was led by one Innocent Esewezie was said to have carried out the action to ensure there is passage and movement of vehicles on essential duties only across the border.

Sources said that there could have been a clash by security personnel of both states stationed at the bridge head.

The development is currently causing ripples between the two states over who supposed to enforced a lockdown order on the boundary head bridge.

The Anambra State Government, would later dismissed the alleged construction of concrete slabs at the Niger Bridge (Onitsha Bridge).

The State Commissioner for Transport, in a statement by his personal assistant, Okoro Benedict, said what was barricaded was the two pedestrian walkways to ensure proper identification by security personnel.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Ministry of Transport, Anambra State has been drawn to a piece of misleading and mischievous information contained in the picture, currently trending on the social media and other online platforms.

“The purveyors of the falsehood in their haste to misinform the public, and discredit the administration of Governor Willie Obiano, claim that the Anambra State Government has used concrete slabs as setbacks to prevent movement to and from the state. Prompted by this false information, the Honorable Commissioner for Transport, Dr Christain C. Madubuko and his team visited Onitsha Bridgehead on Saturday, May 23, 2020.

“During that visit, it was discovered that the viral picture was not only the figment of the corrupt imagination of the creators but also that vehicles bearing essential commodities as well as persons on special assignments are enjoying unfettered access.

“It is pertinent to note that the two pedestrian walkways at the bridgehead had to be barricaded to ensure the proper identification by the security personnel”, the statement added.

BIGPEN recalls that in April, Nigeria’s 36 state governors had unanimously agreed to lockdown their respective states and block inter-state travels for 14 days in an audacious bid to mitigate the spread of the COVID-19 virus from State to State. The initial 14 days has since elapsed but many states still enforced the inter-state restriction of movement.

Chairman of the governors’ forum and governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, who read a communique arising from the meeting, had said that only those on essential duties and vehicles conveying essential goods such as agricultural, medical and pharmaceutical products should be allowed across borders.