The Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah urges the Federal Government of Nigeria to reconsider the current model of road maintenance in the nation and adopt concession of all federal roads in each state to the state governments in collaboration with the private sector for proper maintenance and sustainability.
Governor Mbah made this call when he and his entourage visited the site of the collapsed bridge between the New Artisan flyover and the NNPC Mega Station along the Enugu – Port Harcourt Expressway to ascertain level of damage.
“Today, we are here witnessing a tragedy that has just occurred. We are fortunate enough that no life was lost, but this could have been prevented entirely. So, the people can no longer ply this route because of this tragedy. This shows clearly that we do not have a sound federal road maintenance model.”
Mbah further said, “The bridge collapse didn’t just happen; these threats could have been identified if we had routine or regular maintenance.”
“Perhaps the way to go is to find a way to concession these roads to the states. The states need to take charge of the roads within their domains and there has to be a conversation around the funding models”.
Meanwhile, the state government has advised commuters to ply alternate routes even as government plan and rehabilitate the failed section of the bridge.
The Enugu State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Engr Gerald Otiji in a statement issued to the public advised commuters to ply Nza Street through New Haven or Ogui Road and Abakaliki Road to their various destinations in the meantime.
The bridge collapsed on Monday; the bridge is along Kilometer One, Enugu Port Harcourt Expressway, between Naira Triangle and Goshen Flyover.
