Popular Nigerian cleric and entertainer Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, popularly known as Prophet Odumeje, has criticised the government over the public celebration of maintenance work on the First Niger Bridge, questioning why repairs to decades-old infrastructure are being presented as a major achievement.
In a statement circulating on social media, Odumeje expressed frustration over what he considered excessive publicity surrounding the bridge’s maintenance, arguing that the government should focus on delivering new infrastructure rather than celebrating routine work on an old structure.
“If I see any of you at Onitsha Head Bridge celebrating that you maintained a 1950s bridge for the South-East, Holy Ghost will kpaiii you there. This country has no conscience,” he said.
The cleric also took aim at the way images and videos of the bridge’s maintenance have been promoted online, suggesting that the publicity could give people the impression that the government had constructed a new bridge.
“If you see the way the government is showing this bridge everywhere on the internet, you will think it is a newly constructed bridge, without knowing that it is a bridge built years ago,” he added.
To drive home his point, Odumeje compared the situation to someone celebrating a vehicle that had been parked for decades simply because it had been repainted.
“Imagine someone celebrating his car that he parked for over 50 years after repainting it,” he said.
The First Niger Bridge, commonly called the Onitsha Head Bridge, connects Onitsha in Anambra State with Asaba in Delta State and serves as a major transport link between the South-East and other parts of Nigeria. Its importance to commercial activities and interstate travel makes its maintenance a significant public concern.
The bridge recently came under attention following reports of vandalism involving the removal of bolts and other components. Emergency repairs and the installation of a central concrete barrier subsequently attracted criticism from some members of the public, particularly over concerns about access for emergency vehicles and the way the work was presented.
The controversy has also renewed conversations about infrastructure development, government spending and the difference between maintaining existing public assets and constructing new ones. While maintaining a major bridge is essential for public safety, critics argue that such work should not overshadow broader demands for improved roads, healthcare facilities and other public services.
Authorities have also reportedly directed additional security measures, including surveillance cameras, to help protect the bridge against vandalism.
Odumeje’s comments reflect a wider debate over how government projects are communicated to the public, especially at a time when many Nigerians are facing economic difficulties. However, the cleric’s criticism does not in itself establish whether the repairs were unnecessary or whether the government’s publicity accurately represented the work completed.
The discussion continues to raise questions about accountability, infrastructure planning and the expectations Nigerians have of public officials responsible for maintaining essential national assets.
