Reps Urge Nigerian Government To Reconstruct Collapsed Bridge In Enugu

The House of Representatives has urged the Nigerian Government through the Federal Ministry of Works, to urgently intervene in the reconstruction of the collapsed bridge at New Artisan, Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway.

This followed a Motion of Urgent Importance on ” Urgent Need To Reconstruct The Collapsed Bridge At New Artisan Enugu Section Of Enugu-port Harcourt Federal Expressway And Other South Eastern Deteriorating Roads” which was moved by Nnolim Nnaji at plenary.

The House further urged the Nigerian Government to ensure that adequate funds were provided for durable roads and bridges with optimum facilities across Southeast, as well as taking proactive measures to ensure maximum safety of lives through quality risk assessment and implementation of safety findings.

It said; ” A bridge is constructed over the road for traffic management in various cities, as well as curbing road accident mishaps, prevalent traffic jam and disasters which may lead to high rate of human deaths and injuries.”

The House further noted “The collapse of bridges can be caused by overloaded or heavy-duty transport vehicles operating daily on the road as well as a lack of periodic infrastructural maintenance of the bridges. The incidence and prevalence of this occurrence in our country have been alarming over the years. It has become imperative to examine the phenomenon of highway disasters to underscore its implications on national security in Nigeria, which constitutes a veritable threat to road safety as well as human security, given its destructive impacts and complications and the urgent need for the construction of quality bridges and its maintenance to curb the menace.”

“Alarmed that on Monday 5″ September 2023, a tragedy occurred as a bridge along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Federal Expressway at the New Artisan Market in the Enugu section of the road, collapsed when a truck conveying Nigerian Breweries products and an unidentified lorry was on the bridge; there was no loss of life during the incident as emergency responders quickly swung into action to ensure that no unwary vehicle plunged into the water underneath the bridge; Disturbed that the collapsed bridge left commuters seriously stranded for a long time in traffic was diverted within the area where the bridge collapsed to avoid terrific traffic jam and chaos in the State,” It said.

The motion also said that “this collapsed bridge which is of great economic value to Nigeria, is not only located along Enugu federal expressway but is equally a connecting road to some parts of Imo State, Ebonyi State, then to Umuahia and Aba (commercial nerve centre of South East) both in Abia State, connecting some other South-South region like Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom States respectively.”

The House is concerned that if this bridge is not urgently repaired, it would affect logistics and movement of goods and services and also business-economic growth in Enugu State and across other states, leading to huge losses and sufferings of commuters;

It also observed that statistical study shows the alarming state of dilapidating roads and bridges in South East due to neglect and paucity of funds to reconstruct or maintain the roads as the collapse of bridges and deteriorating road infrastructure seems to be on a growing trend, which calls for urgent intervention.

The House therefore resolved to mandate the House Committee on Works, to monitor and liaise with Federal Ministry of Works in adhering spontaneously to the resolutions to repair the aforementioned collapsed bridge and other South Eastern roads.

It also directs the above-mentioned House committee and the committee on legislative Compliance to ensure compliance with any legislative framework and the resolutions thereof and report back to the general House within two weeks for further legislative action.

Co-sponsors of the motion are Chimaobi Atu, Stainless Nwodo, Mark Obetta, Chijioke Okereke, Barr. Sunday Umeha, Paul Nnamchi, iduma igariwey, Obi Aguocha, Peter Aniekwe, and Ugonna Ozurigbo.

Mercy Chukwudiebere