The Federal Government has said that the opening of the Second Niger Bridge for use will commence from midnight on Thursday.
The Minister of Works, Mr Babatunde Fashola, inaugurated the bridge for the use for one month during the Yuletide.
Fashola inspected the bridge, saying the purpose of completing the bridge was to save lives and alleviate poverty occasioned by waste of many hours resulting from gridlock on the old First Niger Bridge.
Fashola advised that Nigerians should drive carefull during the festive period.
He said, “A lot of people have talked about a solution but the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration decided to build the bridge whatever it took. So, wherever the funds came from, investment income, from our oil assets, repatriation of some funds that were stolen out of Nigeria came in from the US.
“The result is now what we see. When people are talking about poverty, the biggest part of it is not the monetary poverty, is the multidimensional poverty.
“When you spend two to three days trying to cross a bridge, that’s poverty, because it should take just a few minutes so that you can go and do more productive things.
“The President approved that since the bridge is finished that we should create an access road so that during Christmas you can begin to experience what it would feel like plying the bridge.
“The maximum speed limit on Nigerian roads is 100km per hour. Don’t drive 101km per hour. The President will be happy to see users drive safely and responsibly while using this road especially during this Christmas and New Year seasons. The President wishes you a merry Christmas and Happy New Year.