The Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced the reopening of the First Niger Bridge on Thursday, restoring the vital link between Onitsha, Anambra State and Asaba, Delta State, following the completion of rehabilitation works.

The bridge, built in 1965, was shut to traffic on September 7 to allow for emergency repairs after inspectors discovered damaged structural components, including vandalised steelwork around its expansion joints.

The closure, originally scheduled to end on September 21, was extended due to persistent rainfall and other delays. Its reopening is expected to restore normal traffic flow for motorists travelling between the two states after weeks of disruption.

At the reopening ceremony, Umahi praised the Tinubu administration’s infrastructure investment in the South-East and South-South, drawing a comparison between ongoing work on Lagos’s Third Mainland Bridge and rehabilitation efforts on the Second Niger Bridge and other major crossings.

He said further projects would soon extend to other parts of Anambra State, citing presidential approval for the dualisation of the Oba-Okigwe Expressway.

The minister also addressed the 2027 election, voicing confidence in President Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress while criticising Labour Party’s 2023 candidate Peter Obi and the Obidient Movement. He attributed the South-East’s limited support for Tinubu in 2023 to the region’s treatment under the previous administration, predicting stronger backing in the next election. Umahi additionally stated that no individual or group has the right to erect billboards on federal highways without proper authorisation.

The reopening event featured photographs of Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima and Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, alongside APC banners on the bridge railings.

Repainting of the railings and road markings was still underway, and new closed-circuit television cameras had been installed at several points on the bridge.

The Federal Government has dismissed reports of an impending nationwide electricity tariff increase, assuring Nigerians that it has no plans to raise electricity charges across the country.

Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe issued the clarification amid growing speculation that consumers could soon face another hike in their bills.

He maintained that the government had no intention of introducing a nationwide tariff increase, seeking to reassure households and businesses already concerned about the rising cost of electricity.

The clarification comes as Nigerians continue to grapple with the cost of essential services and the broader affordability of power supply.

The minister’s statement is expected to ease fears among electricity users who worried that a fresh tariff increase would add further strain to household budgets and business operating costs.

Several filling stations in Birnin Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, have reportedly suspended petrol sales following the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC) announcement of a ₦66 reduction in petrol prices.

A survey by a correspondent on Wednesday showed that several filling stations had shut their gates a day after the price reduction was announced, leaving motorists and commuters struggling to obtain fuel.

The scarcity was reportedly triggered by some independent petroleum marketers who suspended sales, citing concerns over losses from selling existing stock purchased at higher prices.

A filling station manager, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said his station had petrol in stock but was instructed by his employer to stop selling the product.

According to him, selling the existing stock at the newly announced lower price would result in financial losses because the petrol had been purchased at a higher rate.

The development has disrupted transportation and other daily activities in the state, with residents expressing frustration over the limited availability of petrol.

A civil servant, Aminu Muhammed, said the scarcity had affected workers and commercial drivers, with some unable to carry out their daily activities because of the difficulty in obtaining fuel and the high cost of transportation.

Commercial transport operators, including kabu-kabu drivers, also lamented the situation, saying the announced price reduction had yet to translate into relief for consumers.

Some operators alleged that filling stations that continued selling petrol charged as much as ₦1,500 per litre, even after motorists had waited for hours in long queues.

The situation has left residents of Birnin Kebbi facing limited access to petrol despite the NNPC’s announced price reduction.