After One Year, Namnai Bridge Remains Collapsed

 

One year after the collapse of the Namnai Bridge on the vital Jalingo–Wukari highway in Taraba State, the Federal Government is facing mounting criticism over what many describe as dangerous negligence and a complete failure of responsibility.

The bridge, which collapsed in August 2024, is a critical link along a federal Trunk A road that connects Taraba to Benue and Adamawa States and serves as a strategic passage between the North Central, North East, and North West regions of the country. Despite its national importance, the structure remains unrepaired, forcing thousands of commuters, traders, and students to rely on makeshift ferry services and treacherous water crossings.

In a strongly worded statement issued in Jalingo on Wednesday, Professor John Ajai, a university academic, condemned the Federal Government's silence and failure to act. The professor, who recently attempted to cross the damaged route, recounted a harrowing experience where a boat ferrying passengers and vehicles became stuck midstream due to shallow water.

"The boat's propeller got stuck in the sand. We couldn't berth. Passengers had to be evacuated under tense and unsafe conditions. The buses on board remained stranded for more than thirty minutes. It was divine mercy that prevented tragedy that day," he told journalists.

Describing the situation as a "daily threat to human lives" and a disruption to economic and social activities, Ajai said the government's inaction reflects a "failure of national duty." He expressed disappointment that, to date, neither the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing nor the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) has mobilised contractors to the site, nor has any official statement or timeline for reconstruction been issued.

He also criticised the seeming silence of federal lawmakers from Taraba State, urging them to use their platforms to push for immediate intervention. "You may not be directly responsible for executing federal works," he said, "but your voices matter. Your silence also speaks volumes."

Ajai questioned whether the same level of neglect would be tolerated if the bridge had collapsed in Abuja or Lagos, calling for equal attention and urgency in addressing the infrastructure challenges of other parts of the country.

Reporter  who visited the site of the collapsed bridge in Gassol Local Government Area reports a dire situation. Motorists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians are forced to cross the Namnai River