Malam-Audu Bridge Collapses,Pamanga Bridge Near Failure As Infrastructure Crisis Deepens In Taraba

Taraba State is facing a worsening infrastructure emergency as another major bridge has collapsed, leaving residents stranded and exposing the fragility of transport links across the state.

On Thursday, the Malam-Audu bridge, a vital link between Pantisawa in Yorro Local Government Area and the state capital, Jalingo, gave way after several hours of torrential rainfall. The collapse cut off movement along the busy route, forcing commuters and traders to seek alternative roads that are longer and more difficult to navigate.

Eyewitnesses said the bridge caved in suddenly, with no visible signs of danger. While no casualties were confirmed, residents warned that the economic consequences of the collapse would be severe.

"We are calling on the government to take this seriously because we have been completely cut off from the state capital and other parts of Taraba," Mallam Saliu, a stranded commuter, told Taraba Truth and Facts.

The incident comes barely a year after the Namnai bridge in Gassol Local Government collapsed, a disaster that has not yet been permanently fixed. Locals argue that the failure to address the Namnai situation contributed to heavier traffic on other routes, putting further pressure on bridges like Malam-Audu.

Even as residents of Yorro and Jalingo struggle with the Malam-Audu bridge collapse, another looming crisis is unfolding in Bali Local Government. Investigations by Taraba Truth and Facts show that the Pamanga bridge, which connects Bali to Garba-Chede and is a major route for heavy trucks, is on the verge of collapse after parts of its slabs and decking were washed away by persistent rainfall.

The Chairman of Bali LGA, Alhaji Aboki Dauda Dakka, who visited the site, confirmed the severity of the damage and warned that the bridge may not withstand more pressure.

"The level of damage is alarming. If the Pamanga bridge collapses, it will not only paralyse transportation but also cripple socio-economic activities in the entire North-East, as this is now the only viable option for heavy trucks since the Namnai bridge collapsed," Dakka said.

He disclosed that a formal damage report was submitted to Governor Agbu Kefas in July through the Ministry of Works and Infrastructural Development. He also appealed to the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to intervene urgently.

Taraba has recorded several bridge failures in recent years, with many projects left abandoned after collapse. The Kungana bridge, which went down four years ago, remains unattended after the contractor withdrew from site. The Mayo-Kam bridge, which collapsed last year, is only barely motorable after temporary interventions by the host community.

Observers say the repeated collapse of bridges across the state reflects a pattern of neglect, poor monitoring, and lack of routine maintenance.

"The truth is that most of these bridges are accidents waiting to happen," a civil engineer in Jalingo, who did not want his name published, told Taraba Truth and Facts. "They are left without inspections, and by the time authorities respond, the damage is already irreversible."

Stakeholders have called on the state and federal governments to take urgent steps to restore collapsed bridges and prevent further tragedies. Many argue that without strong intervention, Taraba risks losing more critical infrastructure, further isolating communities and crippling trade.

For now, commuters cut off by the Malam-Audu collapse and anxious residents of Bali monitoring the fragile Pamanga bridge can only wait, as Taraba's bridge crisis deepens.