Joel Ajayi
In its sefless and continues effort to ameliorate the suffering of people in the North East, the North East Development Commission, NEDC has vowed to leave no stone unturned to reconstruct the collapsed Wagga-Madagali bridge in Adamawa State which links Adamawa with Borno State.
The Wagga-Madagali bridge bridge was destroyed by massive flood in the area which cut off any form of transactions between the two States..
Speaking during the assessment tour to the damaged bridge, Managing Director of NEDC Mohammed Goni Alkali expressed serious concern about the collapsed bridge and said that Commission will pare no effort to reconstruct the bridge and restore means of livelihood of the people.
The visit follows a Presidential directive to the Commission to undertake immediate assessment of the situation and proffer remedial solution to ease the difficulties of Commuters.
The Managing Director said that the collapse of the bridge, has already disconnected the two States, adding that the major responsibility of the Commission is to provide services that have direct bearing on the lives of the people of the North East region.
Alkali, who visited the collapsed bridge along with other Management staff and officials of Triacta Construction Company, directed the manager to immediately carry out a survey of the bridge to enable the Commission to take swift actions.
We understand the difficulties with regards to movement of goods and services for farmers, Commuters as well as other road users, we are going to do our best to ensure the bridge is rebuild, we kniw the important of this bridge, as you can see we are here with the contractor.”
Receiving officials of the NEDC at Government House, Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, thanked the Commission for its consistent intervention in the State over the years.
He expressed willingness of his Government to partner with the NEDC in whatever way possible towards the immediate reconstruction of the Wagga-Madagali bridge for the benefit of the people.
However, a resident of Madagali Mathew Maziga, applauded the NEDC for the various projects in the area and appealed for urgent consideration of the Wagga-Madagali bridge.
According to him, the Wagga-Madagali road as well as its bridge, are very important to the people of the area as it links not only Adamawa and Borno but also some other villages and farms.
Following the flood which completely destroyed the bridge, Commuters in the now face severe difficulties with regards to movement of goods and services. For now, goods have to be offloaded and replaced at each end of the waters between the two States.
The bridge is strategic for being the only link between northern Adamawa on that side and neighboring southern Borno. It is highly valued by the people in those areas, hence the anxiety about the bridge remaining passable.
Before rounding up their engagement, the NEDC team also took time off to inspect other projects along the Wagga-Madagali high way.
During an inspection visit to two bridges under construction, the NEDC team discovered that they are also being threatened by flood which calls for urgent measure to be taken to avert their imminent collapse.
It would be recalled that following reports of imminent collapse of the Wagga-Madagali bridge two months ago, the NEDC MD/CEO had undertaken a preemptive tour of the project to avert its collapse by giving the assurance that NEDC will take appropriate measures to reconstruct the bridge.
However, before the NEDC Engineers could be mobilized to site, heavy flood caused the collapse of the bridge.
Aside the Wagga-Madagali bridge, the Commission had earlier constructed some major bridges in Adamawa State including those of Kudzum and Dilichum
