A bridge connecting Abia and Imo states in Nigeria's southeastern region has sustained significant damage, sparking fears of a potential collapse. The bridge, which links the Ubaha Oriendu Ancient Kingdom in Abia State's Umuahia North LGA to Ihite Uboma axis, plays a vital role in facilitating the movement of people, goods, and services between the two states. The traditional ruler of Ubaha Oriendu Ancient Kingdom, Eze Phillip Ajomiwe, has expressed concerns over the bridge's condition.
Eze Ajomiwe recently inspected the damaged section of the bridge and attributed the deterioration to flooding caused by constant rains in September. He lamented that despite repeated alarms raised about the facility's condition, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has failed to take action. The monarch emphasized that the bridge's collapse would impose serious hardship on residents, particularly agrarian communities, farmers, and fishermen who rely on it as a shorter route between the two states.
The traditional ruler warned that if no engineering intervention is carried out, the bridge may soon collapse, cutting off communities living on the other side of the river. Eze Ajomiwe disclosed that he had written to the NDDC in previous years, highlighting the bridge's deteriorating condition, and was assured that the rehabilitation request would be included in the commission's budget. However, no action has been taken, prompting him to appeal to the NDDC to fulfill its promise.
Eze Ajomiwe stressed that the current condition of the bridge requires immediate palliative measures to prevent irreversible damage. He described the bridge as a critical economic and social link, underscoring its importance to the region. The monarch's concerns are shared by residents, who rely on the bridge for their daily activities. The bridge's damage has also affected the local economy, with traders and farmers facing challenges in transporting goods and produce.
In a related development, the Ngada Bridge, which links Ngada Isuochi community in Umunneochi with neighboring communities, has collapsed, disrupting human and vehicular movement. The collapse has caused inconvenience to residents, who are now seeking alternative routes. The member representing the Umunneochi Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Umeh Mathias, confirmed the development and promised to take action to address the situation.
The damage to the Abia-Imo link bridge and the collapse of the Ngada Bridge highlight the need for urgent infrastructure intervention in the region. Residents and stakeholders are calling on the relevant authorities, including the NDDC and the Abia State Government, to take immediate action to prevent further deterioration and restore the bridges to a safe condition. The situation has also raised concerns about the maintenance and upkeep of infrastructure in the region.
The Abia-Imo link bridge is a critical infrastructure that requires urgent attention to prevent a total collapse. The NDDC, Abia State Government, and other relevant federal agencies have been urged to intervene and provide the necessary support to restore the bridge to a safe condition. The traditional ruler and residents are hopeful that the authorities will take prompt action to address the situation and prevent further hardship.
Key points
- The Abia-Imo link bridge has suffered significant damage due to flooding caused by constant rains in September.
- The traditional ruler of Ubaha Oriendu Ancient Kingdom, Eze Phillip Ajomiwe, has expressed concerns over the bridge's condition and appealed to the NDDC to fulfill its promise to rehabilitate the bridge.
- The collapse of the Ngada Bridge has disrupted human and vehicular movement, causing inconvenience to residents and highlighting the need for urgent infrastructure intervention in the region.
