1.
GV PAN.. WRECKED BRIDGE
0.05

2.
LV WRECKAGE SEEN ACROSS THE RIVER
0.10

3.
CU BRIDGE - PAN TO DELAYED TRAFFIC WAITING ON BANK
0.16

4.
LV SMALL CRAFT USED AS FERRIES AT WATERSIDE
0.18

5.
GV GROUP OF RED CROSS VEHICLES (2 SHOTS)
0.24

6.
CU RED CROSS INSIGNIA ON TRUCK
0.27

7.
SV ANOTHER RED CROSS VEHICLE
0.32

8.
GV VEHICLE FERRY CROSSING RIVER
0.45

9.
GV PASSENGERS DE-EMBARK (2 SHOTS)
0.56

10.
SV VEHICLES DITTO
0.59

11.
SV GROUP ROUNDS VEHICLE
1.04

12.
GV DAMAGED BRIDGE (2 SHOTS)
1.12

13.
GV VEHICLES MOVE OFF
1.20

14.
SV PAN TO SUPPLIES BEING LOADED INTO SMALL BOATS USED S FERRIES
1.41

15.
SV TROOPS HAVING HEATED DISCUSSION
1.57

16.
SV SMALL BOAT LOADING CONTINUES (2 SHOTS)
2.05

17.
GV BOATS BEING FERRIED ACROSS
2.13

18.
SV POLICE-BOAT ACROSS RIVER
2.18

19.
GV LINE OF VEHICLES APPROACH RIVER BANK
2.27



Initials AF/VS/CT/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: IN NIGERIA, ENGINEERS REBUILDING A DAMAGED BRIDGE OVER T HE RIVER NIGER -- BLOWN UP DURING THE CIVIL WAR -- EXPECT TO ALLOW TRAFFIC OVER THE STRUCTURE BY THE END OF THIS MONTH (MARCH).

THE BRIDGE WAS BADLY DAMAGED ON THE ONITSHA END BY FORMER SECESSIONIST BIAFRAN TROOPS IN THE INITIAL STAGES OF THE CIVIL WAR. THE SIX-MILLION POUNDS STERLING STRUCTURE HAD BEEN DECLARED OPEN ONLY MONTHS EARLIER.

THE GIANT SPAN REMAINED CLOSED TO ALL TRAFFIC FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CIVIL WAR.

WITH THE ADVENT OF PEACE IN NIGERIA, A GERMAN CONTRACTOR, BACKED BY A GERMAN GOVERNMENT GRANT, MOVED MEN AND EQUIPMENT UP TO THE DAMAGED BRIDGE. THEY WERE AIDED BY A TEAM OF NIGERIAN ARMY ENGINEERS. WORK BEGAN ON REPAIRING TWO CRUCHED SPANS ON THE STEEL AND CONCRETE BRIDGE, AND THEY SHOULD BE HEALED AND USEABLE BY THE END OF MARCH.

THE IMPOSING TASK OF RECONSTRUCTION IN WAR-RAVAGED AREAS HAS BEEN HAMPERED BY EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO BROKEN BRIDGES LIKE THIS ONE OVER THE RIVER NIGER. RED CROSS, REHABILITATION COMMISSION AND EVEN PRIVATELY-HIRED TRUCKS, BRINGING FOOD, MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND FERRYING REFUGEES, MUST CROSS THE RIVER BY BOAT. AS A RESULT OWNERS OF CRAFT, BOTH BIG AND SHALL, ARE DOING BRISK BUSINESS FERRYING TRAFFIC TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RIVER.

THE BRIDGE IS A GATEWAY TO ONITSHA AND THE EASTERN REGION, WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES BANKED UP ON THE WESTERN SIDE WAITING TO CROSS BY AND AVAILABLE TRANSPORT. AFTER A CROSS-RIVER JOURNEY VEHICLES ARE LANDED NEAR THE BURNT-OUT TANKS OF THE BADLY DAMAGED SHELL OIL DEPOT.

ONITSHA WAS UNDER NIGERIAN GOVERNMENT CONTROL FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE THE END OF THE CONFLICT.

ON THE WESTERN BANK OF THE NIGER, FACING ONITSHA, LIES THE TOWN OF ASABA. THE GIANT BRIDGE HAD PREVIOUSLY LINKED THE TWO MAJOR CENTRES.