Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed of Bauchi State has on Saturday directed relevant stakeholders to provide engineering solutions to the collapsed Bauchi-Ningi-Kano Highway Bridge by fixing the bridge within one week.
The governor gave the directive when he led contractors and government officials on an inspection visit to the scene of the collapsed highway bridge which resulted in the death of two persons.
Governor Bala Mohammed said although the collapsed highway bridge is a federal road, the state government will support contractors to fix the road on time because of its economic importance to the state and its neighbours.
He pleaded with the federal government to consider refunding to the state government the funds that will be expended to repair the collapsed bridge.
“We are here with the officials of FERMA and Triacra on a joint inspection visit to this collapsed highway bridge to see how we can solve the incident immediately.”
“The economic loses as a result of the incident is so monumental and as such, Bauchi State Government will support contractors to fix the bride and we hope Mr President will refund the funds to us because of his love to people of Bauchi State”, the governor said.
The governor also appealed to the federal government to work with competent contractors in order to ensure permanent solutions are provided to avert the reoccurrence of the collapse of federal highways in the state.
“On behalf of the Federal Government and the State Government, I want to use this medium to commiserate with the families of those who lost their lives as a result of the incident.”
The Speaker, Bauchi State House Assembly, Abubakar Y. Suleiman, who is the member representing Ningi constituency in the Assembly said the situation was devastating as the flood washed away parts of the road, disconnecting the people of Bauchi, Kano and Jigawa states.
The collapsed bridge which is the link between Bauchi and Kano State which passes through Ningi LGA has caused difficulties for passengers plying the road.
Passengers going to Kano from Bauchi had to divert through Giade LGA of the state, just as those coming from Adamawa, Taraba and Gombe to Kano also had to divert to Giade, and Katagum LGAs to get to kano.
