The Federal Government has banned all forms of mining activities within a 10-kilometre radius of bridges nationwide to protect infrastructure and enhance public safety, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, announced at a weekend press briefing in Enugu after inspecting South-East projects, saying the directive aligns with Federal Executive Council decisions and will be enforced through heightened security, including patrol boats, monitoring vessels around bridge corridors, two patrol vehicles for highway surveillance, and N3 million monthly maintenance support, while reaffirming the expansion of CCTV cameras and solar-powered lighting from bridges to federal highways, noting, “We have already commissioned CCTV installations at the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos and the Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha. Our commitment to deploying solar lights and CCTV to monitor bridges and their surroundings will also apply to all federal highways,” and disclosing that the Third Mainland Bridge CCTV project cost N480 million; Umahi also reported progress on key South-East roads, including the 48-kilometre Asaba Heartland Road rehabilitation valued at N48 billion funded by a N50 billion intervention, stating, “Mr President gave us an intervention fund of about N50 billion, which we paid to the contractor. While we raised concerns about the slow pace of work, we are satisfied with the quality,” while confirming that China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation is handling a 17.5-kilometre bypass at N179 billion with 30 per cent paid and a plan to commission 50 per cent by April 20, adding that the Enugu–Onitsha corridor, now handled by MTM, Nigercat and RCC, has recorded N50 billion in executed works with the first phase due by April 28, as he warned CCCC over delays on the Second Niger Bridge Bypass, disclosed completion of 61 kilometres on the Enugu–Port Harcourt highway, and ordered an end to road rework, declaring, “No place in the country should asphalt be removed from our roads again,” while mandating concrete shoulders and cement-stabilised stone bases in future designs.
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