PARTIAL OPENING OF SECOND NIGER BRIDGE, A HUGE RELIEF BUT … — FRSC

REPORTER: ALFRED AJAYI

The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Sector Command, says the partial opening of the Second Niger Bridge is a huge relief to its personnel, who are currently on the 2022 Christmas and New Year special patrol operation.

The Sector Commander, Mr. Adeoye Irelewuyi, who made this known in an interview with Radio Nigeria on the on-going nationwide special operation, was full of gratitude to the Federal Government for approving the opening of the new bridge at this critical time, when traffic on the old bridge is always very high.

“Pressure has been drastically reduced on the old bridge. More than 50% of the vehicles from the West to the East are small ones. Out of the 60%, 40% of them are heading towards Aba, Owerri, Port-Harcourt. They won’t have to go into onitsha.

“It means that 40% of the traffic volume coming from the West has been reduced, has been taken away from the old bridge,” the Sector Commander stated.

Mr. Irelewuyi, however, noted that despite the relief the new bridge offered, it equally posed a challenge.

“That’s the irony of the whole thing. Although the pressure is reduced, the points to be manned have increased and we now need more men to manage two bridges,” he lamented.

The Sector Commander said while the 2022 special operation targeted zero crash during the Christmas and New Year period, attention was being paid to some portions of the Onitsha-Enugu expressway.

He said help area had been set up at Nteje for prompt response to road crashes among other emergencies.

“The essence of the help area is to offer prompt rescue to accident victims. We will also monitor and enforce compliance of motorists. We are also working on diffusing traffic gridlock in areas like Amansea, Immigration Junction and so on in Awka,” he stated.

The Sector Commander appreciated the cooperation of the road users so far and called for sustenance even beyond the period of the special operation.

He reiterated the commitment of the sector command towards ensuring safe travel this season, noting that this could be achieved when motorists shun over-speeding, overloading, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, among other dangerous practices on the road.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU