LG Boss Alerts FG On Imminent Bridge Collapse

Worried by the state of the Aleto Bridge in Eleme Local Government Area, Chairman of Council, Phillip Okparaji has written to the Federal Government, saying the bridge is in a state of imminent collapse.
The Tide reported that the bridge is located on the Eleme axis of the East West Road that links all four local government areas in Ogoni land and adjoining communities, as well as the only access road to Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.
Some residents of the area and motorists had taken to social media, decrying the dilapidated situation of the bridge, saying it needs shore protection to avoid collapse as water has continued to wash off the sand.
Okparaji in a chat with newsmen expressed worry that the bridge might cave in anytime if urgent action is not taken to fix it stressing the need for reinforcement of the pillars holding the bridge.
The local government chairman therefore advised motorists and commuters to be careful while using the bridge even as he said that the council doesn’t have the necessary resources to carry out rehabilitation work on the bridge.
He said: “We are aware of the state of the Aleto Bridge. It is in a very bad state and it may cave in anytime if something is not done urgently.
“We have appealled and written to the Federal Government through the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Federal Ministry of Works and even the Rivers State government that there is need for urgent attention.
“If the bridge collapses today, the economy of Eleme has collapsed. So we are appealing for an urgent attention. You know our (Eleme council) finances cannot give us the necessary mandate to embark on rehabilitation or reinforcement of that bridge.
“We are creating the necessary awareness on the people plying and using the road to be careful that the bridge is in a total state of collapsing. Even the trucks, we have directed that no truck should park on that bridge again,” the LGA chairman stated.

Dennis Naku