From Ahmad Muhammad, Bauchi
Bauchi State House of Assembly has appealed to the State Government to intervene and reconstruct collapsed bridges as a result of flood in four local Government Areas of the State to ease the movement of people and land transportation.
Law makers representing the affected constituencies separately made the request at the floor of the House under matters of urgent Public importance yesterday.
The affected Local Government Areas are Ganjuwa, Kirfi Bogoro, and Ningi.
Submitting his request under matters of urgent public importance, Hon. Garba Adamu of the Ganjuwa West Constituency drew attention to a bridge in Filin Shagari, Kariya Ward, which is on the verge of collapsed.
Adamu said that bringing the matter to the House was a last resort, as the bridge is expected to be washed away soon, and he requested government intervention.
Contributing to the discussion, Hon. Ladan Muhammad of the Ganjuwa East Constituency mentioned a similar problem in his constituency, where a bridge had recently collapsed.
He appealed to the executive arm of government to reconstruct the bridge, as it is the only road connecting the Soro Community to Kirfi Local Government.
On his part Hon. Musa Wakili Nakwada of the Bogoro Constituency highlighted the danger posed by a bridge on the road linking Bogoro to Gobbiya, urging the government to take action. He suggested that a department be mandated to assess similar problems throughout the state before they occur.
A Member representing Burra Constituency Hon. Ibrahim Tanko, moved a motion calling on Bauchi State Government to carryout emergency repairs, rehabilitate and upgrade Ningi-Burra road.
Leading a debate on the motion, Hon. Ibrahim Tanko explained that Ningi-Burra road is one of the longest and important State owned roads in Bauchi State which covers about 120 kilometers constructed by the Administration of Mallam Isah Yuguda after many years of nightmares by travellers from and to Burra, who had to pass through about 10 Local Governments in Kano and Jigawa States before reaching their Local Government Headquarters, Ningi and State Capital, Bauchi.
He said that despite the very important disposition of Ningi-Burra road, the road is in critical condition and at the verge of collapse any moment from now.
Law maker said, the road is currently under serious threat by erosion, flooding and desertification in which many bridges and culverts have either collapsed, partly washed away or at the verge of collapsing and surfaces and asphalt on the road are washed away with many potholes at almost every inch of the road.
“My people of Burra are getting it difficult to use this road especially during rainy season. Just last year, some bridges collapsed which led to unlinking Burra to other parts of the State. At that time we were taken to olden dark days of passing through Kano and Jigawa States before reaching our Local Government Headquarters and other parts of the State”.
