Welcome

Tag: Bridge

  • Kwara Residents Risk Death Crossing Collapsed Moro Bridge After Floods

    Residents and commuters in Kwara State are risking their lives daily by crossing the collapsed Moro Bridge on the Ilorin-Igbeti Federal Highway following severe flooding caused by the overflowing Moro River.

    The collapsed bridge, located in Moro area of the state, has left thousands stranded and disrupted movement between Ilorin, parts of Oyo State, and northern communities in Kwara including Kaiama and Baruten.

    Flooding Worsens Situation

    Heavy rainfall on May 18 reportedly caused the Moro River to overflow, submerging vehicles and worsening conditions around the damaged bridge.

    Eyewitness videos circulating online showed stranded passengers climbing onto vehicle roofs while others trekked through floodwaters carrying loads on their heads in desperate attempts to cross.

    Some commuters were also seen balancing dangerously on the remains of the collapsed Bailey bridge despite safety concerns.

    Bridge Collapsed Weeks Ago

    The colonial-era Moro Bailey Bridge reportedly collapsed around 5 a.m. on April 30 after a heavy-duty truck passed over the aging structure.

    Several commuters were injured during the incident and taken to hospitals in Ilorin for treatment.

    The bridge serves as a major transport route linking communities in Kwara and Oyo states, making its collapse a major setback for residents, traders, farmers, and transporters.

    Farmers, Traders Lament Hardship

    Residents said the situation has severely affected economic activities, especially the movement of farm produce from rural communities to markets.

    Farmers and traders lamented rising transportation costs, delayed movement of goods, and possible spoilage of perishable food items.

    Many commuters also complained that they now spend longer hours navigating alternative routes or trekking through dangerous paths to reach their destinations.

    Government Responds

    The Kwara State Government earlier announced traffic diversions and deployed engineers to carry out palliative repairs on alternative routes.

    According to the Ministry of Works, engineers were mobilised shortly after the collapse to ease traffic congestion while work continues on a permanent replacement bridge.

    The government also dismissed reports claiming huge sums were spent on emergency interventions, insisting that only ₦27 million was used for palliative works on the federal bridge.

    Residents Demand Urgent Action

    Despite the government’s intervention, residents and community leaders said repairs have been too slow, forcing people to continue risking their lives daily.

    They called on both the federal and state governments to urgently provide temporary solutions and accelerate the completion of the new bridge before more lives are lost.

    The incident has again raised concerns over the poor condition of aging infrastructure across several parts of Nigeria, especially major transport corridors linking farming communities.