FG Bans Mining Activities Within 10-Kilometre Radius Of Bridges Nationwide

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, yesterday, said that the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu had banned all forms of mining activities within a 10-kilometre radius of bridges across the country.

Umahi disclosed this to journalists during a press briefing in Enugu after the inspection of some projects in the South-East, adding that the ban was a directive, aligned with decisions of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), aimed at strengthening the structural integrity of bridges and ensuring road safety nationwide.

Umahi warned the public to abide by this directive, adding that the government will deploy patrol boats to enforce the ban around bridge corridors and will also provide two vehicles to the police for highway monitoring.

The minister praised the ingenuity of the President, regarding the troubling Enugu-Onitsha route, revealing that April 28 has been set for its completion. He said that Tinubu is the Biafra that the people of the South-East are agitating for, considering the numerous projects completed and ongoing in the region.

According to him, it is only the audacity of Tinubu, his determination, and love for the South-East people that have brought every abnormal situation to a halt in the zone.

The minister announced that in the next two weeks, the first 15 kilometres and the carriageway would be completed.
IN another development, in a major boost to national infrastructure security, traffic efficiency, and economic connectivity, Umahi, at the weekend, commissioned the CCTV Monitoring and Viewing Centre for the Second Niger Bridge, marking another milestone in the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The newly commissioned CCTV system covers a stretch of 11.9 kilometres, from the toll station to the Awka Interchange, and is equipped with modern 4K surveillance cameras, solar-powered lighting, and real-time monitoring facilities.

The commissioning ceremony, held along the strategic Asaba–Anambra corridor, showcased the Federal Government’s commitment to complementing landmark infrastructure with smart surveillance technology, rapid-response security architecture, and durable road construction designed to last for generations.

Speaking at the event, Umahi recalled that upon assuming office on May 29, 2023, the current administration met the Second Niger Bridge substantially completed by the previous government.

However, he noted that critical ancillary works, particularly the access and bypass routes, were either incomplete or not initiated. “While the bridge itself was heartwarming to behold, the peace and pieces left behind were fully and totally completed under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu,” Umahi said.