FG directs work on collapsed Niger bridge

The Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and the Niger State government yesterday averted what would have been a major crisis over the collapse of Bokani bridge on the Mokwa-Tegina highway.

Following the collapse of the bridge after a heavy down pour, motorists plying the ever busy highway which connects the South-west to the North, diverted to the Bida-Minna road.

But residents of Bida decided to block the state road out of fear that the road which was not built to accommodate heavy duty vehicles may collapse under pressure.

Our correspondent learnt that several motorists were stuck for hours resulting in tension with tanker drivers threatening to ground activities by blocking major entry points into the state.

The state government and the chairman of the state traditional council, the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, had to call officials of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN), National Road Transport Owners (NARTO), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and others to a meeting over the matter.

At a joint press briefing by representatives of the associations and the state government, the Commissioner of Works and Transport, Abdulmalik Cheche, said an amicable solution was reached, following a call to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, who had earlier been briefed on the condition of the bridge.

The commissioner said the minister had directed work on the affected bridge as a temporary measure, while the federal government moblises for the rehabilitation of the highway which has been in a deplorable condition.

Our correspondent reports that Niger State has the highest number of federal roads, stretching over 2,000 kilometers. Cheche said all the federal roads are in deplorable condition and require urgent action.