The Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya has undertaken the tour of the collapsed bridge in Kalanja, situated between Bauchi and Gombe States road.
The Governor called on the Federal Ministry of Works to, as a matter of urgency fix the road because “all our livelihoods depend on this road.”
He said; “This road is like an artery. It’s the one that connects blood and takes from the heart to the brain and when the brain doesn’t function, no part of the body functions. That is the importance of this road to us. I believe the Governor of Bauchi State was here. Don’t be surprised, if tomorrow you see the Governor of Adamawa or Borno State coming here, it’s because of the importance of this road.”
The challenges of the Bauchi-Gombe Road have been a lingering issue for some years now, causing undue delays and hardship for travellers to Bauchi, Plateau, Kaduna, Abuja and other parts of the country.
Governor Yahaya said that for nearly five years now, by this time every year, disruptions on the road were recorded, thereby causing undue losses and hardship for those using the road.
He said; “But I know that in the last three years, it used to happen like this, either at this point or in two other points that I mentioned earlier, Tashan Turmi and Bara Town. Because of that the Nigerian Government should, as a matter of urgency, come in and address the issue.”
He, however, said the Federal Ministry of Works had given the assurances that it had instructed the contractor and work had commenced.
The Governor encouraged them to put in their best in k and ensure professionalism.
An official of the Federal Ministry of Works, Mr. Bitrus Dauda, said work had commenced on the road and gave assurances that he would see to its completion, even if it means sleeping there.
Similarly, an official from the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Patrick Ikava, said because the road is considered a major pathway in the country, the organization is always around to ensure safety of travellers.
Mr. Ikava said the corps was working to install signposts indicating looming danger on the road, because there were road crashes recorded in the past.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
