The Federal Government has announced a ban on sand mining within a 10-kilometre radius of the River Niger as part of measures to protect the first and second Niger bridges. The Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, disclosed this on Friday in Asaba during the commissioning of the Second Niger Bridge Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) Cameras Monitoring Centre, noting that the decision was approved by the Federal Executive Council to safeguard critical federal infrastructure across the country.
Umahi said tolling on the Second Niger Bridge would not commence until all access roads linking the Anambra and Delta sections are completed, adding that the CCTV monitoring centre would enhance security along the highway. “The tollgate is ready, but we won’t start tolling on the road until we complete the access roads and bypass roads that lead to the bridge,” he said, explaining that security agencies would operate from the monitoring centre to ensure rapid emergency response. He directed the Delta State Police Command to enforce the ban and arrest violators, while traditional rulers, including the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, and the Igwe of Obosi, Chidubem Iweka, commended the project and called for the speedy completion of the access roads.