Richard Ginika Izuora
The Anambra State Government on Friday evening announced the closure the River Niger Bridge at Onitsha, the only connection between South East and South West parts of Nigeria.
The move, which was announced by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Prof Solo Chukwulobelu stated that it was in line to further curb the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
The statement, said: “Anambra State Government wishes to inform the public that effective today, Friday 5th June 2020, COVID-19 enforcement and security teams will be restricting traffic onto the Niger Bridge by 7pm until further notice.
“This is as a result of operational curfew hours in place in Delta State which runs from 7pm to 6am. The curfew in other parts of Anambra state is still from 10pm to 4am.”
The government had unilaterally barricaded the Bridge last month, leaving pedestrians, commuters and other road users stranded until it was angrily pulled down no sooner than it was erected by a shocked neighbouring Delta State Government to allow free passage.