UMAHI VISITS COLLAPSED ARTISAN BRIDGE IN ENUGU .... Assures of Speedy Reconstruction To Address Plight of Nigerian Road Users

The Honorable Minister of Works, Sen. (Engr) David Nweze Umahi has swiftly, visited the site of the collapsed Artisan Bridge located at km 0+800 of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway between New Artisan flyover/NNPC Mega Station in Enugu State.

The Bridge which was constructed in the late 1970’s, was said to have collapsed on Wednesday 27th September 2023 in the afternoon.

According to a statement from Blessing Lere-Adams, the Director of Information (Press and Public Relations Unit) of the Federal Ministry of Works, "the failed Bridge is located on a subsisting project (REHABILITATION OF ENUGU – PORT-HARCOURT EXPRESSWAY SECTION III: ENUGU – LOKPANTA IN ENUGU STATE. CONTRACT No.6251) and the project is still ongoing."

"Consequently, a team of Engineers were deployed to the affected Bridge location so as to collate relevant data, and investigate possible cause of the collapse and come up with solution to restore the failed Bridge." The statement reads.

"It has been recommended by the Engineers on site that the entire collapsed span be demolished, redesigned and re-constructed to avert future occurrences and loss of lives."

The statement further revealed that the Honourable Minister visited the site to  access the extent of damage and to also, proffer immediate solution to quickly assuage the suffering of both motorist and commuters plying the bridge. 

Accordingly, Sen. Umahi said he had to immediately visit because he knew "the collapsed bridge has been of critical use to the Socio-Economic growth of the entire South East Region, particularly those commuters within and outside the Enugu State environ."

Earlier, the Governor of Enugu state, Barr. Peter Ndubuisi Mba expressed his sincere appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the immediate response in assessing the situation of the collapsed bridge by the visit of the Minister of Works, Engr. Umahi.

The Minister, who has also assured the Governor that the Federal Government is doing everything humanly possible to reconstruct the bridge with better quality local content materials, confirmed that these have been tested and can stand the test of time of long period of usage and longevity of up to fifty (50) years with no maintenance when built with Concrete Technology. 

The Minister stated that this is what is being advocated for use for nigerian roads and bridges with pioneer construction projects already executed both in the Apapa- Oshodi road and the Lekki-Ajah free trade Zone area in Lagos stat.

He further stated that, experience has proved that concrete technology used in Ebonyi and recently in Cross River state by the Governor, Sen (Prince) Bassey Otu, are the right way to go in Nigeria.