From Ben Adaji, Jalingo
Senator representing Taraba Central, Haruna Manu and other prominent indegines have called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently come to the rescue of the people, with the construction of the collapsed bridge at Namnai, along Jalingo- Wukari Federal Highway.
The bridge which collapsed in August last year, links the southern part of the country with the North-East region, as well as the Federal Capital Territory and other border states of Benue, Plateau and Nasarawa States, serving as a vital gateway for economic and social activities.
With the collapse of the bridge, motorists were left stranded for weeks before individuals mobilised canoes and ferries to the river to provide temporary succour and cross the vehicles.
The bridge which was completely washed away after a heavy rainfall has exacerbated the economic strain on the local community and other road users.
Similarly, businesses activities were crippled because vehicles conveying goods and services have to divert to Garba-Chede-Mutum and Jalingo road which is about 120 kilometres before reaching their destination on both sides.
Our correspondent reports that since the collapse of the bridge five months ago, there has not been any form of intervention either from the state or the federal government.
Shortly after its collapse, the state government promised to provide military floating bridge to reduce the suffering of the people, but the promise is yet to be fulfilled.
As the possibility of reconstruction of the bridge still hangs in the balance, the people are wondering why their is different from other states in the North-East whose bridges collapsed at the same time.
They cited two bridges in the North-East zone that collapsed almost at the same time with Namnai bridge, but wondered why the two bridges located along Yola-Gombe and Gombe-Bauchi roads were all attended to and reconstructed by the federal government.
On efforts by Taraba lawmakers towards the reconstruction of the bridge, Senator Manu disclosed that there are ongoing efforts aimed at ensuring that work commences before the rainy season.
The senator said apart from raising the matter on the floor of the Senate, he had visited the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA, to discuss the need for the speedy reconstruction of the bridge.
“As you know this bridge links the eastern part of the country to all the states in the North-East, if it is not reconstructed before the next rainy season, it will ground economic activities in the zone.”
Also, the member representing Bali/Gassol Federal Constituency, Ja’faru Yakubu Chiroma, raised the issue of the collapsed bridge on the floor of the House of Representatives and begged the federal government to urgently reconstruct it.
