Local fishermen raises alarm over the imminent collapse of Wuya Kede and Jebba bridge in Niger state
FROM SAMSON ALFA, minna.
The Minister of works, Mr David Umahi has been called upon to as a matter of urgency find a lasting solution to the dilapidated Wuya -Kede and Jebba bridges from imminent collapse.
Our Correspondent reports that the bridges which is in the heart of Niger state along the Bida- Mokwa road is the bridge linking both the North and southern part of Nigeria and was constructed in the early sixties
In an interview with some of the local Fisher men around the coast of the river Niger who earn their livelihood round the bridge said they notice some crack while fishing and allayed fear of a looming danger.
Mallam Yakubu Tetengi who is a popular fisherman told our reporters that the government must take proactive action to forestall the collapse of the bridge in no distance time
He said “under the bridge there is a crack indicating many holes, adding that the bridge have been threatening to collapse until a team of engineers carried out minor maintainance some years back.
“I was at Jebba bridge and the situation is the same though maintenance work was said to have commence on the bridge but the work have been suspended the reason best known to the government”. Yakubu queried.
According to him, the Wuya Kede Bridge, which was constructed since 1960’s is the only critical infrastructure connecting communities in the Niger South senatorial district and have not experience any serious maintenance.
” In this modern society the government should expand or build a new Bridge as the present one is outdated considering the heavy trucks that are plying the road, adding that the alarming situation poses a significant threat to the safety of the commuters and the National economy”.
The reports added that the Wuya Kede Bridge located in the heart of Niger state, serves for the movement of people, goods, and services between the North and southern parts of the country. However, the bridge’s deteriorating condition has raised concerns among locals, who allayed fear of imminent collapse.
Contacted, one of the senior officials of the federal ministry of works in Niger state who craved anonymity claimed that a team of engineers were dispatch to the scene and yet to discover any threat from the Bridge.
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