NIGER BRIDGE or ONITSHA - ASABA HEAD BRIDGE

Greetings everyone, and a warm welcome to my TH-cam channel! Today, I had the incredible opportunity to cover the inauguration of the largest automated palm oil mill, overseen by Mr. Gabriel Ogbechie, the esteemed CEO of Rainoil, in Asaba. On my journey back, I couldn't resist capturing the breathtaking sight of the renowned Onitsha-Asaba link bridge, famously known as the Head Bridge.
This bridge holds immense significance due to its historical importance, often referred to as the River Niger Bridge. Serving as a vital connection between the southeastern and western regions of Nigeria, spanning the mighty Niger River, it stands as a symbol of unity and progress. Completed in 1965, this architectural marvel is situated in Onitsha, Anambra State, extending its reach to Asaba, Delta State.
Featuring two lanes and a pedestrian walkway, the bridge is a bustling thoroughfare, frequently congested with traffic and bustling with informal traders. To alleviate this congestion and ensure enhanced connectivity, a second bridge, christened the Second Niger Bridge or the Second Onitsha Bridge, was inaugurated in 2023. This modern marvel not only relieves pressure on the existing structure but also promises greater durability and efficiency for the region's transportation needs.
Feasibility studies and design considerations on the possibility of constructing a bridge across River Niger from Asaba to Onitsha was carried out by the Netherlands Engineering Consultants of The Hague, Holland (NEDECO) in the 1950s, Between 1964 and 1965, French construction giant, Dumez, constructed the Niger Bridge, to link Onitsha and Asaba in present-day Anambra and Delta States respectively at an estimated cost of £6.75 million. Construction of the bridge was completed in December 1965.
After its completion, the bridge was eight by four hundred and twenty feet (8×420 ft.) with a carriageway of 36 feet centre-truss and a pedestrian walkway on both sides of the carriageway. It was commissioned by the then Prime Minister the late Alhaji Tafawa Balewa and opened for traffic in December 1965. The commissioning of the bridge was the last public function of the Prime Minister before his assassination on January 15, 1966.[3]
During the Nigerian Civil War of 1967 - 1970, in an attempt to halt the Nigerian military advance, retreating Biafran soldiers destroyed the River Niger Bridge at Onitsha, trapping the Nigerians on the other side of the river. During President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan administration, the bridge was rehabilitated by replacing two spans on the Onitsha end of the bridge that was damaged during the civil war with a fourteen-foot wide bailey, at an estimated cost of 1.5 million pounds
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[@greatestdebo]

You're doing a good job. Been following your content for a while now.

[@ekingzvisuals]

Thank you so much 🙏🙏

[@ledgepedia8376]

Why not show the new bridge?

[@ekingzvisuals]

Video coming soon, stay tuned

[@ojooyebamiji875]

"Architectural Marvel" 😂😂

[@ekingzvisuals]

😅😅😅😅