Why Bridges Are Collapsing In Taraba

• What Government Must Do To Avert It – Engineers

 

 The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Jalingo Branch, has raised alarm over the increasing risk of bridge collapses in Taraba State, blaming the activities of sand dredgers operating too close to bridge structures.

 

Speaking during a live interview on the sidelines of the 2025 Engineering Week, the Vice Chairman of the Society, Engr. Lunts Jimmy Johnson, warned that continued dredging beneath and around bridges is weakening their structural integrity.

 

"Activities of sand dredgers around our bridges are the major reason they are caving in," Engr. Johnson said. "These operators are dredging right under the bridges, which is exposing the pillars and undermining the foundation holding these structures."

 

According to him, dredgers prefer operating near bridges due to ease of access for heavy-duty vehicles, but this convenience is coming at a steep cost.

 

"To protect our bridges from collapse, sand should be collected at least one to two kilometers away from the bridge location. Government must introduce a policy that mandates this distance," he advised.

 

Engr. Johnson also emphasized the need for local engineers to be involved in the planning and execution of state infrastructure projects. "When local professionals are sidelined, you deny the state the benefit of their insight and knowledge of the terrain," he said.

 

The remarks were made during the 2025 Engineering Week held at the NUT Hall in Jalingo. The three-day event, themed "Engineering a Sustainable Future for Taraba State: A Call for Collaboration," brought together engineers, government officials, and development partners to explore solutions to the state's infrastructural challenges.

 

In his welcome address, Chairman of the Jalingo Branch of NSE, Engr. Bulus Abegye, called for stronger collaboration between policymakers and engineers to ensure lasting development. "Engineering is at the heart of sustainable growth," he said. "Our state must begin to see engineers as critical partners in progress."

 

He urged the Taraba State Government to tap into the Society's pool of expertise to improve infrastructure delivery. "We are ready to partner with the government in any way necessary," Engr. Abegye added.

 

Representing the Secretary to the State Government, Chief Timothy Kataps, the Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement, Mr. Assembor Tanko, commended engineers for their role in shaping society. "Engineers are the silent architects of national development," he said, "turning concepts into concrete achievements."

 

The Engineering Week featured a range of activities including a public awareness road walk, a radio sensitization program, technical sessions, panel discussions, courtesy visits to government agencies, and the swearing-in of newly elected NSE Jalingo officials.

 

The annual celebration provides a platform for engineers across the country to reflect on their role in addressing societal and developmental issues. But this year, the spotlight on collapsing bridges sends a clear message: unless the government acts swiftly to regulate sand dredging and engage local professionals, critical infrastructure across Taraba may continue to deteriorate.