By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has assured that it will reconstruct the collapsed Artisan Bridge in Enugu State for socio-economic development.
And in a swift response, the Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi visited the site of the collapsed artisan bridge a day after the information got to the ministry, a statement signed by the director, Press and Public Relations in the ministry, Lere-Adams Blessing, said.
The failed Bridge is located on an ongoing project: REHABILITATION OF ENUGU – PORT-HARCOURT EXPRESSWAY SECTION III: ENUGU – LOKPANTA IN ENUGU STATE, Contract No.625, it added.
Constructed in the late 1970s, the new Artisan Bridge located at km 0+800 Enugu – Port Harcourt Expressway between New Artisan flyover /NNPC Mega Station in Enugu State collapsed in the afternoon on Wednesday, 27th September, 2023.
It disclosed further that the team of engineers drafted to the scene to investigate and unravel the possible cause of the collapse recommended demolition, redesigning, and reconstruction of the entire collapsed span.
“The Minister visited the site to access the extent of damage and to also proffer immediate solution to quickly assuage the sufferings of both motorists and commuters plying the bridge,” the statement reads in part.
According to the statement, Umahi, during the visit, assured Enugu State Governor, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mba, that the federal government will do everything humanly possible to reconstruct the bridge using the local materials based concrete technology which he, the Minister, is strongly advocating for Nigerian roads on the ground that it has been proven to be of higher quality with long lifespan of up to 50 years without maintenance.
Umahi said he had to embark on the visit immediately because he knew that the collapsed bridge had been of critical use to the socio-economic activities of the entire South-East zone, particularly those commuters within and outside Enugu State and its environs.
Earlier, the Governor Mba, on behalf of the government and people of Enugu State, expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through the Minister for the immediate response to access the collapsed bridge situation.
The statement also noted that use of concrete technology had already begun with the Apapa- Oshodi Highway and in the Lekki-Ajah Free Trade Zone area in Lagos State, affirming that based on the experience from the use of the technology in Ebonyi State and, recently, in Cross Rivers State by Governor Bassey Otu, it is the right way to go in Nigeria.