Umahi confirms FG’s commitment to reconstruct broken bridge along Enugu/Port Harcourt expressway

The Federal Government has assured the people of Enugu State that it will reconstruct the collapsed bridge along the Enugu/Port Harcourt motorway as soon as possible. The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, made this promise on Thursday after inspecting the site of the incident at the New Artisan section of the motorway.

The bridge, which was built in the 1970s, collapsed on Monday, causing traffic gridlock and hardship for commuters and residents in the area. The cause of the collapse is yet to be determined, but some observers have blamed it on the erosion of the soil by the nearby abattoir.

Umahi said the Federal Government was committed to fixing the bridge and restoring normalcy to the road, which connects Enugu and Rivers State and serves as a major route for travellers from Abuja and other parts of the country. He said the reconstruction would be done in collaboration with the Enugu State Government, which has been carrying out aggressive infrastructure development in the state.

He also commended the Enugu House of Representatives caucus, led by Mr. Nnoli Nnaji, a member representing Nkanu East/West Federal Constituency, for their concern and advocacy on the issue. The caucus had visited the scene of the collapse on Wednesday and appealed to the federal government to declare a state of emergency on infrastructure in the southeast zone, citing the decaying state of roads in the region.

Umahi said the Federal Government was aware of the challenges facing the Southeast Zone and was working to address them. He said the Enugu/Port Harcourt motorway was one of the priority projects of the government and that the reconstruction of the collapsed bridge would be done with quality and speed.

He appealed to the public to be patient and cooperate with the government and the contractors, who would soon mobilise at the site. He also urged the people to avoid activities that could undermine the integrity of the bridge and other infrastructure in the area.