The Federal Government has banned all forms of mining activities within a 10-kilometre radius of bridges across the country.
Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, announced the directive during a press briefing in Enugu at the weekend, following an inspection of ongoing projects in the South-East zone. He said the ban would curb the destruction of roads and bridges and enhance public safety
According to Umahi, the directive, which aligns with decisions of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), is aimed at strengthening the structural integrity of bridges nationwide. He added that enforcement would be intensified through the deployment of patrol boats and other security measures.
He disclosed that the Federal Government would deploy monitoring boats around bridge corridors and provide two patrol vehicles to the Nigeria Police for highway surveillance, with a monthly maintenance support of ₦3 million from the ministry.
Reiterating the Government’s commitment to safer highways, Umahi said the installation of CCTV cameras and solar-powered lighting would extend beyond bridges to cover federal highways nationwide.
“We have already commissioned CCTV installations at the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, and the Second Niger Bridge in Onitsha. Our commitment to deploying solar lights and CCTV to monitor bridges and their surroundings will also apply to all federal highways”, he stated.
The Minister expressed concern over delays and poor supervision by CCCC on the Second Niger Bridge Bypass section, stating that the ministry would issue a formal notice to the contractor, copying the financing bank, demanding accelerated progress within 60 days or face contractual sanctions. He added that CCCC has completed 61 kilometres of the Enugu–Port Harcourt highway and is finalising additional sections.
Umahi also issued a firm directive against road rework, stating: “No place in the country should asphalt be removed from our roads again”, and ordered that future designs must include concrete shoulders and stone-base with cement stabilisation, to prevent premature road failures.
