Senate Urges FG To Use Contingency Funds, Service Wide Votes To Repair Zungeru Bridge, Others
The Senate has asked the Federal Government to use the contingency funds domiciled in the Ministry of Works and Service Wide Votes in the Ministry of Finance to repair Zungeru bridge and all other bridges in the state of disrepair across the country.
It also asked the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, to urgently embark on immediate repairs, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Zungeru and Kebbi bridges to prevent further collapse of the old bridge, loss of lives, protect national assets and ensure free flow of economic activities and security in the region.
The upper chamber asked the Ministry of Works and the Nigerian Railway Corporation, NRC, to conduct structural assessments of the old bridge and put in place measures to avert further collapse.
It further urged the relevant authorities to assess and evaluate the state of bridges and dams across the country, with a view to outlining long-term strategies for the sustenance of federal infrastructures nationwide.
Resolutions of the Senate, yesterday, were sequel to a motion sponsored by the chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East).
Musa, who raised a red flag over the threat of collapse of Zungeru bridge, which is a critical federal infrastructure in the country, explained that the bridge originally designed for railway use currently serve both rail and motor vehicle traffic, and was under severe pressure as a result of this diversion.
Presenting the motion, Senator Musa said: “The Senate notes that the Zungeru bridge, which is a critical federal infrastructure in the country, providing access across the Kaduna River, has collapsed, and due to its deteriorating condition and bad shape, traffic has been diverted to the old bridge, originally designed for railway use but currently serving both rail and motor vehicle traffic.
“Also notes that as a result of this diversion, the old bridge is under severe pressure, posing a significant threat of collapse, which could lead to catastrophic consequences, as over 1,000 vehicles pass through the route on a daily basis in order to facilitate movement of people, essential goods and food items, just as we received the information of the collapse of Rara bridge, which is another link between Minna, Tegina and Kebbi State.
“Further notes that the diversion and disruption caused by the current state of the bridge has invariably restricted human and economic activities, with food supplies particularly affected and heightened insecurity in the areas, thereby occasioning hardships on the residents and travelers, as well; and
“Concerned that if urgent intervention measures are not put in place to address this infrastructural challenge, the continuous usage of the old bridge will lead to devastating social and economic consequences that could further aggravate insecurity and disrupt national supply chains.”