From Godwin Agia, in Jalingo
The Mayo Kham Bridge along Jalingo-Bali road has collapsed due to massive flood crippling business activities in the State.
Citizenship Daily correspondent who visited the location of the bridge at Mayo-Kham in Bali Local Government area of Taraba on Sunday reports that the 45 year old bridge which is 88.5 klm away from Jalingo is affected by gully erosion.
Commuters as well as vehicles were using the ancient bridge as an alternative for vehicles, though heavy duty trucks could not pass on the narrow colonial bridge.
The development has made inaccessible vital roads linking several communities including Gembu in Sardauna local government, Baisa in Kurmi Local Government, Gashaka Local Government Council and Takum Local Government area.
Alhaji Yakubu Mohammed, Controller, Federal Ministry of Works in Taraba said that the there had not been early signs of the disaster. However, he said that there could be an emergency measure either by community efforts or any form of intervention to be put in place to enable movement across the bridge.
He advised the public to avoid using the bridge pending when it would be fixed.
He also assured the public that he would make his report to the relevant authorities for quick intervention.
Some persons from the surrounding communities who spoke with our correspondent, passionately called on the state government to, as a matter of urgency, address the problem.
According to them, the development will not only hinder movement, it will also impact negatively on farming activities.
“Transporting our farm products to the nearby markets will no doubt also be affected if the government failed to fix it in time,” one of the local farmers said.
Citizenship Daily reports that the disaster is coming two days after a similar scenario in Namnai, Gassol Local Government Area, where the major bridge linking Jalingo and Wukari as well as other parts of southern Nigeria was washed away by flood.
