Collapsed Bridge on Mokwa-Jebba Road to be back in 72hrs – Fashola

Collapsed Bridge on Mokwa-Jebba Road to be back in 72hrs – Fashola

The Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola says temporary measures are on to restore the collapsed bridge on Mokwa-Jebba road in 72 hours.

Fashola gave the assurance in Zaria on Sunday shortly after commissioning a 60MVA, 132/33kV transformer at TCN power station.

He attributed the collapse of Mowo Junction Bridge along Mokwa-Jebba road to forces of nature, saying the ministry has deployed its personnel and those of relevant agencies to take alternative but temporary measures around the collapse bridge for motorists to start using the road within the next 72 hours, Daily Trust writes.

“We know this will cause some discomfort to commuters, for which we apologise for. It is an emergency and we are treating it as such. We are responding,” he said.

“A year ago, I think also on the 10th of June, Tatabu bridge also collapseed as a result of rising water level and heavy rainfall and we responded. We have fixed and reconstructed a new bridge, which is bigger and better than the box cover that was there. We will do the same thing for what has happened in Mokwa. 

“We have gained some experience, from our contractors to our staff, we know what to do and by the time I got aware of it early this morning, all our staff had started responding. It is very encouraging to me that we have built a team and a system that works.

“We have given instruction to our Director in charge of North Central zone to move to the place and work with the Controllers in Niger and Kwara state. We have also given instruction to the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Corps Marshal is on top of that, helping to manage the traffic on the Federal High way and divert traffic, especially heavy duty trucks carrying fuel, food items to North and South through that road.

“There would be discomfort without a doubt, but we will manage it and make it better day by day and in a couple of days, it should be better. 

“Within the next 72 hours, I am sure, we will bring some stability and control to the place. The Zonal Director has our mandate to report to the Headquarters every 12 hours what is going on, so that we can measure progress. So, there is nothing to panic about. This is an incident that has happened as a result of forces of nature. Rainfall destroys our infrastructure, but it is also a blessing to our farmers and fishermen.”