FRSC Urges Safety Plan Ahead of First Niger Bridge Demarcation

The Federal Road Safety Corps has called on the Federal Government to incorporate emergency-response and traffic-management provisions into plans for the demarcation of the First Niger Bridge, warning that concentrating traffic on a single bridge during repairs could severely limit access for rescue and recovery operations.

ACM Cyril Matthew, the RS5 Zonal Commanding Officer, made the appeal at the 2026 Special Marshals Zone Conference held at the FRSC Secretariat in Awka, Anambra State. The conference was themed “Repositioning Special Marshals for Greater Impact through Strategic Partnership and Data-Driven Road Safety Intervention.”

Matthew disclosed that the Corps was in discussions with the Federal Ministry of Works on the safety and traffic-management implications of the demarcation. He said the Corps was particularly concerned about the risk of traffic depending on one bridge in the event of a breakdown or crash, which could obstruct access for emergency and towing vehicles.

“We are mindful of the challenges that can arise during emergency recovery operations, because some of the towing equipment available to us weighs about 70 tonnes and will require sufficient operational space to manoeuvre effectively,” he said.

He described the Corps’ position as advisory, aimed at ensuring that emergency-response considerations are built into the engineering and traffic-management plans rather than treated as an afterthought.

Matthew noted that the bridge project had reached an advanced stage and would significantly improve connectivity when completed.