Senate directs FG to reconstruct Zungeru bridge

By Andrew Oota

Senate has directed the Federal Ministry of Works and Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to embark on repairs, rehabilitation and reconstruction of Zungeru bridge in Niger and Rara bridge in Kebbi states immediately .
The upper legislative House said the reconstruction of the bridge would prevent further collapse and avoid needless lost of lives .
This resolution was on the heels of a motion on the collapse of the Zungeru Blbridge, situated along the busy Minna-Zungeru-Tegina road sponsored by Senator Sani Musa (Niger East).
Sani in his motion said there was need of an urgent repairs of the bridges to prevent further disruptions and movement of people.
He said the reconstruction would ensure protection of national assets, and ensure free flow of economic activities and security in the region.
According to him, the Zungeru bridge, a critical federal infrastructure, providing access across has collapsed due to its deteriorating condition and bad shape.
This, he said resulted into traffic been diverted to the old bridge, originally designed for railway use but currently serving both rail and motor vehicle traffic.
As a result of the diversion, “the old bridge has been under severe pressure, posing a significant threat of collapse, which could lead to catastrophic consequences”, he said.
According to him, over 1,000 vehicles pass through the route on daily basis to facilitate movement of people, essential goods and food items.
He also said information at his disposal indicated of a collapse of Rara bridge, another link between Minna – Tegina and Kebbi state.
Sani said the diversion and disruption caused by the current state of the bridge has invariably restricted human and economic activities, with food supplies particularly affected and heightened insecurity in the area and has occasioned hardships on the residents and commuters.
He expressed concerned that continuous usage of the old Zungeru bridge without intervention measures would lead to devastating social and economic consequences.