By Emeka Oparah
I’m shocked, disappointed and disgusted by the reported activities of vandals on the structure of the 2nd Niger Bridge, particularly the destruction of the expansion joints used to absorb the thermal expansions of the bridge.
As a matter of fact, I’m ashamed as a Nigerian of Igbo extraction that this is happening after several years of clamoring for the bridge and all the nonsense that went down with the construction.
This is not an attempt to recount all the shenanigans that attended the construction of this particular bridge.
It is ludicrous that despite the determined efforts of the last administration to deliver the much desired 2nd Niger Bridge, many of the direct beneficiaries have not shown any appreciation, more than 18 months after the completion.
I hate to think that the ongoing vandalization of the bridge has something to do with the disdain some people have for the government that built the bridge. If so, that will be a clear case of cutting one’s nose to spite one’s face.
Typically, some people will soon start spreading the falsehood that the vandals are not Igbos but people “imported” from the Northern parts or South-West to make the locals look bad. Laughable!!!
It is sad to remember that during the construction of the bridge a group that called themselves the Association of Shrine Owners (claiming ownership of scores of shrines placed (some, overnight) around the River Niger demanded N3 billion compensation or they’d stop the project.
But former Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola shocked them by going ahead with the construction of the bridge.
We can’t let this happen. Aside being a Federal infrastructure, the 2nd Niger bridge is a unique asset to Igbos and an important gateway to the South-East and South-South of Nigeria.
It must not be willfully destroyed either by vandals or angry locals, who have beef with the government in Abuja.
Every right thinking Nigerian especially Igbos, who are the main beneficiaries of the bridge, must speak up against this shameful act before it is too late.
It seems that a new culture of killing our own people and destroying our own property is fast taking root in our country. What a shame!
Emeka Oparah is the Vice President Corporate Communications & CSR, Airtel Africa.
A journalist, Storyteller and Sustainability Enthusiast . He is also a Crisis Management Expert, Multi-lateral Partnership Manager, Digital Education Champion and Humanist.
