Manu, Chiroma Urges FG to Reconstruct Collapsed Bridge Along Jalingo-Wukari Highway
By Chuwang Dungs, Jalingo
The Senator representing Taraba Central Senatorial District, Haruna Manu, and Member representing Gassol/Bali Federal Constituency, Ja’afaru Chiroma has appealed to the Federal Ministry of Works and Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to urgently reconstruct the collapsed Namnai bridge along Jalingo- Wukari Federal HighWay in Taraba state.
Mr Manu and Chiroma made the appeal separately on Friday morning while speaking with DAYLIGHT REPORTERS in a telephone conversation.
“The Namnai bridge collapsed last August after a heavy downpour and was left without repair, despite promises by the federal government through the North East Development Commission (NEDC),” Manu said.
He said due to the bridge’s collapse, vehicles and commuters, especially heavy duty vehicles have to use the alternative route between Jalingo-Garba Chede road before reaching Mutum Biyu in Gassol local government area, which is about 120 km.
The senator noted that the alternative route is also near collapse due to the diversion because of the pressure of vehicles plying it.
He also said the situation has restricted economic activities in the North East, especially Adamawa and Taraba states and increased insecurity.
“As you know this bridge links the eastern part of the country to the North East, if the bridge is not reconstructed before the next rainy season it will ground economic activities and increase insecurity in the North East.
“Travelers have to go through over 400 kilometres from Taraba State before accessing Benue State.
“I wonder why the bridges along Yola-Gombe road and Gombe-Bauchi road that collapsed almost the same period as the Namnai bridge are being reconstructed but nothing is being done in our own case.” He lamented
Manu said apart from raising the matter on the floor of the Senate under matters of urgent importance, he visited FERMA to discuss the need for the speedy reconstruction of the bridge.
He then solicited immediate reconstruction of the bridge before the rainy season for easy access and free movement of vehicles.
Also speaking with our correspondent, Chiroma, said he equally raised the issue of the collapsed bridge at the lower chamber.
“Apart from all these efforts, I also visited the North East Development Commission and requested their intervention. They came to the site and took the assessment of the damage with the promise to come to our rescue,” he said.
Chiroma stressed the need for urgent action towards the reconstruction of the bridge which he said was strategic to the people of North East and the entire northern Nigeria.
DAYLIGHT REPORTERS reports that a week after the bridge collapsed, officials of NEDC visited the area and promised to immediately mobilize for the reconstruction of the bridge.
Similarly governor Agbu Kefas, promised to temporarily provide a military floating bridge to reduce the suffering of the people, however he failed to deliver on his promise.
It was the intervention of Chiroma, who provided two ferries to assist travellers and vehicles to cross the river at no cost that helped in easing the pathetic situation.
