The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has launched an investigation into an accident at the Otuogori Bridge project in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The incident occurred when a belt used to position a bridge beam snapped, causing the beam to slide and strike other beams. NDDC officials and journalists inspected the site on Monday to assess the incident and establish the circumstances surrounding the accident.
According to the NDDC State Director in Bayelsa, Engr. Godknows Alamieyeseigha, the commission has begun an on-the-spot assessment of the incident. He dismissed suggestions that the incident resulted from structural failure, describing it as an accident that occurred during construction. Alamieyeseigha expressed confidence in the contractor’s ability to address the damage and complete the project.
The Managing Director of Jillian Group of Companies, Engr. Christian Omiezor, explained that the bridge was still at the preparatory stage, with the contractor yet to complete the structure. The accident occurred while workers were positioning beams on their bearings before they could be permanently secured. Omiezor emphasized that the incident was a minor accident and that no life was lost due to the safety measures in place.
A company representative, Engr. Abdul Eric, confirmed that one of the workers was injured and was receiving medical attention. Eric explained that the accident occurred after a beam was repositioned because it was not properly seated on its support. He said the crane was being lowered to allow workers to remove its bed from the supporting structure when the belt snapped, causing the beam to slide and hit other beams.
Eric further explained that the beam began swinging after the belt snapped, striking another beam and causing further damage. He added that the affected section was about 100 metres from the river, while the damaged beams were approximately 25 metres long. Eric dismissed reports that the bridge had collapsed into the river or that people travelling on the water had been trapped or drowned.
The NDDC has promised to make its findings public after concluding its preliminary investigation. The commission is expected to determine the cause of the accident and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The Otuogori Bridge project is a 600-metre bridge aimed at improving infrastructure in the region.
The incident has raised concerns about the safety of construction projects in the region. However, the contractor and NDDC officials have assured that the project will be completed as scheduled. The injured worker is currently receiving medical attention and is expected to return to work soon.
Key points
- NDDC launches investigation into Otuogori Bridge accident
- Accident occurred during construction, not due to structural failure
- One worker injured, no fatalities reported
