Travellers and motorists in Taraba State have been left stranded following the collapse of the Namnai Bridge along the Jalingo-Wukari federal highway. A heavy downpour on Tuesday night further worsened the situation, washing away a makeshift wooden bridge that had been serving as an alternative route.
Governor Agbu Kefas had recently visited the site of the collapsed bridge, assuring road users that the state government would reconstruct it. The government subsequently awarded a contract worth over N19 billion to Cloneburge Construction Company for the bridge’s reconstruction. However, before an official alternative route could be provided, the rains destroyed the locally built passage, leaving travellers stuck at both sides of River Namnai.
A correspondent at the scene on Wednesday morning reported that with no way to move their vehicles across, commercial drivers were forced to turn back, while local youths resorted to carrying passengers on their backs to cross the river.
One affected driver, Mr. Tony Abume, expressed frustration, saying, “We have no option but to return to Jalingo. Our passengers are crossing on people’s backs, and there’s no way for vehicles to get across.”
A local youth leader, Mr. Iliasu Namnai, who organized villagers to assist stranded travellers, clarified that their efforts were not solely for financial gain but to help people reach their destinations. “Although we take a little money from passengers, our goal is not profit. We are appealing to Governor Kefas to fulfill his promise and rebuild the bridge because the challenge of ferrying people across is overwhelming,” he said.
Attempts to reach the Taraba State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Moseh Luka, for comments were unsuccessful, as his phone lines were unreachable, and he was absent from his office at the time of inquiry.
