The federal government on Monday promised a swift repair of the Mokwa- Jebba-Ilorin road that was significantly damaged following the torrential rainfall over the weekend.
Nigeria’s Acting President Prof Yemi Osinbajo made the commitment while inspecting the collapsed Bakino Bridge at Tatabu community near Mokwa in Niger State.
Prof Osinbajo was briefed on the spot by relevant officials including the site engineers and supervisors from the Federal Ministry of Works.
Professor Osinbajo told reporters at the site that government was fully committed to ending the difficulties on the Ilorin-Mokwa-Jebba road by addressing the remote causes of the deterioration on the road.
“The Minister of Works is working on a lasting solution but in the interim, we have assurances from the contractors and engineers working here that this road will be made passable in about a fortnight,” he said.
The Acting President noted further that construction work on building a new bridge would commence but that it would take some time for it to be completed due to the slow movement of material from Ilorin to the site.
“The contractors have informed me that movement of material to this location would be difficult and slow because of the deplorable nature of the road but with the commitment and support of the Federal Road Safety Corps and other agencies, the job would be done in good time,” he stated.
Speaking to youths who had gathered at the site of the collapsed bridge, he conveyed the greetings of President Muhammadu Buhari to the community and urged for patience while government’s efforts are in top gear to fix both the collapsed bridge and the road.
The Acting President was accompanied on the visit by the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola; the Niger State Governor, Abubakar Bello, the Estu Nupe, Dr. Yahaya Abubakar and other senior government officials.