Tragedy struck at the Namnai Bridge in Taraba State, where a temporary bridge constructed by a private individual suddenly gave way. The makeshift bridge, which had been serving as a vital passage for motorists since the original bridge collapsed two years ago, was washed away by the River Namnai after heavy rainfall hit the area on Wednesday night.
The temporary bridge was in operation despite the lack of a permanent replacement, with the private individual charging between N3,000 and N20,000 per vehicle to use the route. Hundreds of vehicles, including trucks, passed through daily, but now the situation has become chaotic. Motorists were unable to cross the site after the bridge collapse, as rising water levels made the route impassable.
"We've got a massive traffic jam here, with hundreds of vehicles stuck on both sides of the river," says driver Musa Adamu. "Passengers are now forced to get out and cross on foot, then board other vehicles on the opposite side to continue their journeys." The situation is frustrating, to say the least.
Interestingly, reconstruction work on the original bridge, which was awarded three months ago by the North East Development Commission, is moving at a slow pace. The commission had earlier promised to complete the project by December of this year. While that deadline is still in sight, the current situation is a reminder that the lack of a permanent bridge is still a pressing issue.
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