By  Austin Ogwuda
Asaba—WITH few days to Christmas, gridlock is gradually building up  at the Niger Bridge as  traffic on Asaba-Benin highway increases by the day.

Traders making last minute shopping at the popular Onitsha market and holiday makers are having hectic time passing through the bridge, although men of the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, have increased their patrol.

A visit there yesterday showed that the snail movement on the bridge was compounded by police check points at both the Asaba and Onitsha ends of the bridge.

The Federal Government had on August 3, 2005, awarded a contract for the rehabilitation of the bridge at a cost of N2.4 billion, while former President Olusegun Obasanjo shortly before leaving office, flagged off N58.6bn Second Niger Bridge.