The iron barricade mounted on the popular Niger Bridge by the Anambra state government to enforce the ban on inter-state movement has been dismantled.
The barricade which was on the boundary separating Asaba in delta state and Onitsha in Anambra state followed the ban on inter-state movement by President Muhammadu Buhari as part of measures to fight the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The barricade which has generated public outcry brought representatives of the government of the two states to address the matter. The delegations were led by the secretary to Delta state government, Chiedu Ebie and his Anambra counterpart, Professor Solomon Chukwulobelu, their Police Commissioners, Hafiz Inuwa, and John Abang including leaders of the COVID-19 task force teams from both states.
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The meeting at the foot of the Niger Bridge discussed ways to check the continuous influx of people trekking through the boundary and how to separate unauthorized heavy duty vehicles from genuine ones to reduce the pressure on the reportedly weak Niger Bridge.
Enforcement of the ban on inter-state vehicular movement through the Niger Bridge has been a tough one. The human traffic following the ease of lockdown leading to the reopening of markets posed a greater threat to the possible increase in community spread of the virus hence the emergency meeting of both states to address the situation.
Part of the agreement reached at the meeting include the swapping of personnel by both sides for checks to ensure that persons on essential services are given unfettered access. The issue of traders who throng the Niger Bridge boundary on daily basis is however yet to be thrashed out.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
