Taraba bridge collapse: Federal controller expresses worry over fate of commuters, says damage beyond emergency repairs

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By Celestine Ihejirika, Jalingo

The fate of commuters plying a major federal highway linking the southern part of the country to the north-east axis now hangs in the air as sudden bridge collapse in Taraba state has gone beyond emergency repairs.

State controller, Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Yakubu Mohammed disclosed this while speaking with our correspondent in Jalingo on Wednesday.

According to him, the collapsed Namnai Bridge in Gassol Local government council needed construction of another bridge.

He added that a report had been forwarded to the Federal Ministry of Works in Abuja while a feedback is still being awaited for immediate action.

Engr. Mohammed further reviewed that he had also visited another bridge collapse at Mayo-Kam in Bali Local government council of the state with his team staff to ascertain the damaged portion caused by flood for onward report to the federal ministry.

While applauded state government concern and Bali local government chairman for providing temporary measure at Mayo-Kam Bridge.

He appealed to the state government for urgent intervention particularly in the area of provision of canoe to enable commuters and farmers cross before the federal ministry’s intervention.

At the time of filing this report our correspondent who just returned from Namnai bridge collapse in Gassol local government council revealed that economic and business activities in the area has completely paralyzed as commuters now make due through Mutum-Biyu to Garba-Chede route for onward movement to North-eastern part of the country.

It could be recalled that the two bridges collapsed almost the same day following heavy downpour that occurred last week in the area.