Posted by From Takuruku Promise in Jalingo on
The Federal Government has released N20 million for immediate reactivation of the Old Nukai bridge in Jalingo to serve as temporary measures for travelers.
The Federal Government has released N20 million for immediate reactivation of the Old Nukai bridge in Jalingo to serve as temporary measures for travelers.
The new bridge collapsed Sunday following a five-hour heavy down pour in which more than 50 people were killed.
Minister of State for Works, Mallam Yayah Abdulkareem disclosed this yesterday when he paid condolence visit to Taraba State Deputy Governor in Jalingo.
Abdulkareem said President Olusegun Obasanjo was duly informed of the incident by the state federal comtroller of Works, Engr. Ogunrinede and promised to do everything possible to restore the bridge.
He said the Federal Government was already holding dialogue with Julius Berger to convey bailey Bridge and store in River Nukai to serve as temporary measure to cushion the effect of the collapse Bridge.
Responding, Taraba State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Armaya'u Abubakar expressed appreciation on behalf of the Governor, Jolly T. Nyame and the people of Taraba State for the federal government's kind gesture.
The Deputy Governor said that what has happened can be attributed to structural problem because the collapsed Bridge was not well constructed.
He said even though he is not an Engineer, he observed that the beams and the rod that held the bridge was noting to write home about and wondered why the old bridge that was constructed in 1952 was still standing while the new bridge which was constructed in 1976 collapsed.
The deputy governor therefore, appealed to the Federal Government to engage the services of a competent contractor to handle the construction of a new permanent one.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has commiserated with victims of the last weekend flood disaster in Jalingo.
It urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to urgently provide relief materials to the victims.
The House further called on the federal ministry of works to re-construct the damaged bridge, which linked Jalingo and Wukari.
The House passed the resolutions after it adopted a motion sponsored by Emmanuel Bwacha (PDP-Taraba) and 33 others.
Presenting the motion, Bwacha said the heavy rainfall on Aug 7, caused massive over flooding which resulted in the death of more than 100 persons.