A bridge connecting Abia and Imo States via the Ubaha Oriendu-Ihite Uboma axis is reportedly on the verge of collapse, according to Eze Phillip Ajomiwe, the traditional ruler of the Ubaha Oriendu Ancient Kingdom in Umuahia North LGA of Abia State.
After seeing the full extent of the bridge’s destruction, Eze Ajomiwe voiced his worries and expressed disappointment that the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) had ignored his many warnings regarding the facility.
There is concern that the bridge could collapse if no structural intervention is made after flooding caused by persistent rains in September damaged a piece of it, as the queen warned.
He pleaded with the NDDC, the government of Abia State, and other federal authorities to step in immediately to prevent the bridge from giving way.
The bridge, according to Ajomiwe, is an important social and economic connector for rural areas, farmers, and fisherman who utilise it to cut down on travel time between the two states. If the bridge were to collapse, it would cause a lot of trouble for the locals and defeat the point of building it.
The traditional leader expressed his disappointment that the NDDC did not address his concerns about the bridge’s deteriorating state, despite his prior letters expressing his hope that the commission’s budget would cover the necessary rehabilitation.
He pleaded with the NDDC to fulfilll its promise, stating that the bridge needed urgent corrective actions to prevent further erosion-related damage.
What we are witnessing here is catastrophic, so I am pleading with the NDDC to keep its word. He warned that our folks on the opposite side of the river would be cut off if the bridge collapsed entirely.
Relatedly, the Ngada Bridge in Umunneochi has fallen, cutting off people and vehicular traffic as it connected the Ngada Isuochi community to nearby communities.
Umeh Mathias, a lawmaker from the Umunneochi Constituency in Abia State, acknowledged the news and promised to take action in response to questions from Afrisearch.