By Ovat Abeng
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Anambra State Sector Command, has deployed personnel to strategic locations across Onitsha and its environs ahead of the temporary closure of the First Niger Bridge from September 7 to 21, 2026.
The deployment notice was contained in a statement signed and issued to Journalists in Awka on Sunday by the FRSC State Sector Public Education Officer, SRC Margaret B Onabe.
According to Onabe, the deployment is part of proactive measures by the Corps, in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, to ensure effective traffic management, smooth vehicular movement, and the safety of road users throughout the two-week closure.
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She said the Sector Commander, FRSC RS5.3 Anambra Corps Commander Bridget Asekhauno, disclosed this following a working visit and road audit conducted on Saturday, September 5, 2026, along major routes connecting to the Second Niger Bridge, which will serve as a major alternative route during the closure.
The exercise was conducted in collaboration with the Sector Commander, FRSC RS5.3 Anambra; Sector Head of Operations, Controller, Federal Ministry of Works, Anambra State Chapter, Engr—Emenike Timothy; his Delta State counterpart; and the Commander, Anambra State Traffic Management Agency.
The road audit focused on assessing the major routes that will facilitate vehicular movement during the closure and identifying areas requiring urgent intervention to ensure smooth traffic flow and minimize the risk of road traffic crashes.
Motorists are advised to make use of the identified alternative routes connecting to the Second Niger Bridge, including the Nkpor–Old Road–Obosi route, Onitsha–Owerri Road from Upper Iweka, and Atani Road through Uga Junction to Harbour Industrial Layout.
The Sector Commander assured the public that the FRSC, in collaboration with other traffic management agencies and relevant stakeholders in Anambra and Delta States, is fully prepared to manage traffic and respond promptly to emergencies throughout the period.
She urged motorists to plan their journeys, obey traffic rules and traffic control directives, avoid unnecessary stopping or parking along the routes, exercise patience and refrain from dangerous driving practices.
The Command also appealed to members of the public to cooperate with personnel deployed to strategic locations, noting that their support and compliance with traffic regulations are essential to achieving a safe and seamless movement of traffic during the period of the First Niger Bridge closure.
