Second Niger Bridge May Be Redesigned In A Way That Discourages Suicide

The Federal Controller of Works, Anambra State, Adeyemo Ajani, says the 2nd Niger Bridge may be redesigned to discourage some persons from committing suicide on the bridge.

Ajani stated this on Saturday when members of the Abuja branch of the Nigeria Society of Engineers came on an inspection tour of the project.

The NSE, led by its branch Chairman, Chinasaokwu Okoli, said the society had, during the inspection, recommended a suicide-proof design of the pedestrian walkways of the bridge to prevent prevalent cases of suicide on bridges across the country.

Speaking on the project, Ajani said he would take up NSE’s recommendation with the appropriate authorities.

He said, “What we have on the walk lane is our standard design. What the engineers are talking about is a kind of review, but what we have now is 1.1 meters which is the design.

“If we have to do abnormal design to take care of suicidal situations, it will require another design.

“There has been rapid progress on the project. The last time the minister and the vice president came, it was 15 per cent level completion but today, it is above 21per cent.

“When you look at it from the time the project started, we are now at 24 per cent completion. The main bridge has begun. We have done all the piling and the structures above water level have been done considerably.”