See How People Traveled To Onitsha Before The Construction of The Niger Bridge

The Niger Bridge

The Niger Bridge more popularly referred to as the Onitsha Bridge is of Nigeria’s most economically crucial bridges. It was constructed between 1964 and 1965, and it was commissioned in December 1965.

The Bridge links the South-Western and the South-Southern region of the country to the South-East. The Bridge has its two ends both in Asaba, Delta State and  Onitsha, Anambra state.

Apart from being host to one of the largest marketplaces in all of West Africa, Onitsha also happens to be the gateway to the densely populated eastern region.

So, prior to the construction of the famous Onitsha Bridge in 1966, how were people traveling to the East?

Well, in the early 1960s, travels across the river Niger to the eastern part of Nigeria was achieved with the means of river ferries of various sizes.

Below are photographs of showing travelers at the jetties and landing points at Asaba end of the river in 1961.

Asaba Ferry Landing (March 1961) Photo Credit: amightytree.org

A private enterprise river ferry stopped at the main Asaba passenger-landing dock in 1966. Photo Credit: Laurens Dawes.

The Asaba riverbank and ferry in 1960. Photo Credit: Asabamemorial.

A view taken just off the Niger River banks looking backward along the eastern front of 1960s Asaba, photographed from aboard a Ferry headed southeastward toward Onitsha.. Credit: Almightytree.org

Asaba-Onitsha- Ferry Crossing (1959)