First Niger Bridge Closure: Odumeje Questions Southeast Leadership Over Infrastructure Gaps, Calls for Fairer Distribution

By Chibuzo Obidike

Nigerian clergyman, Chukwuemeka Ohanaemere, popularly known as Odumeje, has criticised political and business elites in the Southeast over what he described as inadequate efforts to attract critical infrastructure and services to the region.

Odumeje made the remarks in a video circulating on social media, where he particularly questioned why residents of the Southeast often have to travel outside the region for visa application services.

“All the elites in Igbo land are busy making noise. It’s so shameful that in 2026, there is no embassy in the Southeast. Before anyone can get a visa, he or she must travel to Abuja or Lagos,” he said.

While Odumeje referred to the facilities as embassies, the issue is more accurately one of visa application centres. Some foreign missions and their authorised visa service providers operate centres in Lagos and Abuja, while certain countries also have centres in other Nigerian cities. For instance, VFS Global currently lists visa application centres for some countries in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt, meaning availability varies according to the destination country.

Odumeje argued that the distribution of major infrastructure and services should reflect greater regional balance, insisting that the principle of one Nigeria should be accompanied by fairness in the location of economic and public facilities.

He also raised concerns about seaport infrastructure in the Southeast, arguing that the region needs stronger transportation and trade infrastructure to support businesses and economic development.

The clergyman further criticised the Federal Government over the temporary closure of the First Niger Bridge in Onitsha for emergency rehabilitation, alleging that the timing of the project was politically motivated because elections were approaching.

“Federal Government has come to play politics with Onitsha Head Bridge. That is why, now that the election is close, they have come to repair it,” he said.

However, available official and independent reports indicate that the Federal Ministry of Works announced the two week closure after an inspection identified deterioration of the bridge and vandalised components. The bridge was scheduled to remain closed from September 7 to September 21, 2026, with motorists directed to use the Second Niger Bridge during the rehabilitation.

The Anambra State Government has also reported that rehabilitation work had commenced at the bridge, while traffic and security agencies were deployed to manage the diversion and minimise disruption to motorists.

Odumeje, however, maintained that the wider question should be about the level of infrastructure and economic opportunities available to the Southeast compared with other parts of the country.

“When we talk about one Nigeria, every major tribe should have at least one seaport and one international embassy. But in the Southeast, there is nothing. Our elites keep deceiving themselves,” he said.

His comments have therefore reopened the broader debate over regional infrastructure, access to international services, the responsibilities of political and business elites, and whether the Southeast is receiving a fair share of national development and investment.