Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi has assured of immediate reconstruction of the bridge between the New Artisan flyover and the Naira Triangle at the Enugu end of the Enugu – Port Harcourt expressway.
Umahi, who blamed the bridge’s collapse on eroded abutment and age, having been constructed in 1978, also commended Governor Peter Mbah for undertaking to dualise the Enugu state part of the Enugu-Abakaliki road, saying the governor had shown leadership in alleviating the plights of his people.
Umahi spoke when he inspected the collapsed bridge with Governor Mbah Thursday evening.
His words:
“This bridge that collapsed has gone viral. A lot of people have been sending the pictures to me and have been calling. Also, you never allowed me to rest since you said I must come and see it.
“When you have a leader who is committed to what leadership of a people should be, he must get support. That is why I decided I must come so that I will brief the president.
“Yesterday, I sent the man in charge of bridge design and construction and also the Director of the Federal Ministry of Works in charge of the South East. They came and carried out their review.
“What has happened here is very unfortunate. I have read the report of my men, and I have also read the report you sent to us and the pictures, and the two reports are the same. The piles were exposed because, besides the abutment, this bridge was built in 1978.
“We are going to look at the second bridge and see how far remedial work could be done on it and see if we can use it while we do everything to demolish this one and start the reconstruction.
“We are going to scale up the reconstruction of the two bridges alongside the road that is going on.”,
On the governor’s plan to reconstruct and dualise the Enugu-Abakaliki road, Umahi assured the federal government would expedite the necessary approvals.
He also commended Mbah’s suggestion of getting states involved in federal road maintenance, saying it showed the private sector mentality the governor had brought to bear on governance.
“I am happy that you came from the private sector. There is a very serious high hope by the steps you have rolled out”, he concluded.
