The Niger Bridge linking Delta state to its Anambra neighbouring state was this morning closed following the local council elections taking place in Delta.
Gridlock at Onitsha/Asaba Head bridge since the early hours of today. Entry & exit blocked due to local govt elections in @Deltastate .Clearly there wasn’t enough awareness on the curfew .Leaders must begin to put the people first.So many travelers including children, stranded. pic.twitter.com/IDwN7JJwjh
Advertisement— Uju Ogechukwu Ochuba (@UjuOchuba) January 6, 2018
TheNewsGuru reports the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) had urged motorists to ply designated routes following restriction on vehicular movement during Saturday’s council polls in the state.
However, the closing of the Niger bridge has continued to pose a challenge to travelers who are crossing the state using the Niger bridge route to reach their destination in the South East and other faraway places.
Some have been reported to be stranded at the bridge since 8am.
“The audacity of the State: Niger Bridge closed this morning against travelers for a local Govt election in Delta State. Onitsha is shutdown. This is reckless impunity, inflicting pain to innocent travelers,” one angry traveler took to Twitter to say.
@channelstv @APCNigeria #Nigerbridgeshutdown
The audacity of the State: Niger Bridge closed this morning against travelers for a local Govt election in Delta State. Onitsha is shutdown. This is reckless impunity, inflicting pain to innocent travelers. pic.twitter.com/krCSQFE1Yi— benUwa01 (@anozben90) January 6, 2018
[2:47PM]"@rudegal_bev: Like what is the meaning of this … because of local government election not even governorship and they blocked the road …this is insane .. insane.. my mum is on the road since 6am at the ONITSHA- NIGER BRIDGE @Gidi_Traffic https://t.co/yHaY5cPYpo
— GIDI (@Gidi_Traffic) January 6, 2018
@DrJoeAbah @Gidi_Traffic @RoadSafetyWA Chaotic situation at Onitsha head bridge inward and outward pic.twitter.com/iEWqFGnx7P
— Dera Nnadi (@NnadiDera) January 6, 2018
TheNewsGuru reports the chaotic traffic situation is witnessed at the Onitsha head bridge inward and outward.
The heavy traffic from the Onitsha head bridge has reached up to Upper Iweka in Anambra and up to Summit junction in Asaba.
Reports reaching TheNewsGuru is that the bridge would be opened for passage by 4pm.
However, voters have generally complied with government restriction order in parts of the state.