From ADETUTU FOLASADE-KOYI, Abuja
Senate has urged the Federal Government and the Ministry of Works to repair the Niger Bridge, Onitsha and the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos immediately, to avert their imminent collapse. The decision came after lawmakers considered two separate motions brought by Senators Gbenga Ashafa and Hope Uzodima on the state of the two bridges.
Presenting his motion, Ashafa, (ACN, Lagos) said there had been complaints of shifting and unusual vibrations on the Third Mainland Bridge by commuters. According to him, the report produced by a company experienced in underwater surveys indicated that the underwater metal casing housing the concrete piles on which the bridge stands, have rusted and this accounts for the vibration of the bridge. “Prof. JHT Kim, Head of the Concrete Structural Engineering Labouratory, Yousei University, Seoul Korea, came on research in December, 2012 and conducted an underwater examination of the structures holding the bridge and reported that the dames to the structure were worse than what he had been briefed,”Ashafa said.
Thereafter, Senate urged its Works Committee to liaise with the ministry to find an urgent solution to the problem. It also “urged the Federal Government to carry out inspection on all over-water bridges in Nigeria to save them from further deterioration and collapse.”
On the Niger Bridge, the Senate urged the ministry to undertake immediate reinforcement, repairs and rehabilitation to avoid the tragic consequences of its possible collapse. The Upper Chamber urged the “Federal Ministry of Works to take immediate action to commence work on the Second Niger Bridge project before the end of this quarter.” Sponsor of the motion, Senator Uzodinma, (PDP, Imo State), noted that the bridge is in a horrifying state of decay with the imminent threat of collapse sooner than later.
“Because of the aforesaid state of the bridge, commuters have since the Christmas season, been subjected to excruciating ordeals wherein only single lanes are allowed on the bridge at a time for fear that the normal double lane carriage could lead to an instant collapse of the bridge, consequently, endless traffic across the bridge from all parts of the country.”
He said that the evidently weak and collapsing Niger Bridge may cave in suddenly without any further notice which could result to a major national catastrophe. Senate President David Mark noted that the two bridges should not be allowed to collapse and called for urgent measures to stem their deterioration.
WELL I ADVICE NIGERIANS TO AVOID THE BRIDGE, THOSE ARE DEATH TRAPS
The Federal govt of Nigeria is totally useless because at present it is run by corrupt politicians and officials who see politics as a way of amassing personal wealth,period. Not until we Nigerians start electing those who love our Nation passionately as leaders we shall continue to suffer and destroy the future of our generations to come.
One Englishman , told of his experience while visiting Nigeria thus he said and I quote ….I saw a dilapitating roads all over and I ask my host why the roads are like this , HE Said Becos one of the president or governors relation are yet to be killed on the road once it happen they will repair it. Maybe when GEJ is visiting anambra to commission a vague project the bridge will collapse so that the next govt. will repair and construct new one…..I nearly die last December out of fear driving on that bridge with it attending vibration shame on Nigerian leaders
de most important of dis two bridges mentioned here is Niger bridge dat got no alternative route even if third mainland bridge collapse but (God forbid) they are still two bridges dat connect to island but Niger bridge got no alternative this is why God will punish GEJ if he eventualy loose 2015 election with out completing the second niger bridge before 2015 I don’t knw what our Anambra senators are doing in dat upper chambers look at de way they rush donate sachet waters to Ezu people as if they are not formal governors in Anambra but thank God that de people of the area knows dose dat come wth sincere mind and those dat cme for politice but as God visited sme governors so he shall visit tgether senators one afte de orther.
It is very unfortunate that we do not have RULERS WITH POSITIVE THINKING TO BETTER THE LIFE OF THOSE THAT VOTED THEM TO POWER, RATHER WHAT WE HAVE IS RUINERS WITH NEGATIVE THINKING WHO ONLY KNOWS HOW TO STEAL PUBLIC MONEY. THE CALL FOR THE REPAIR AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW NIGERBRIDGE STARTED EVEN BEFORE OBJ BECAME THE PRESIDENT OF NIGERIA LOOT THE NIGERIA MONEY FOR EIGHT YEARS AND REFUSED TO REPAIR OR CONSTRUCT THE BRIDGE. JONATHAN WHOM I FELT WILL CAN AMEND ALL THESE PAST WRONGS BY THESE EVIL DEMONS IN POWER CONSIDERING HIS BACKGROUND YET TURNED TO BE THE WOREST AMONG THEM. WHEN YOU ARE VOTED TO POWER AND YOU WERE UNABLE TO DO ONE REMARKABLE THING THAT YOU WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR, IT MEANS YOU ARE A USELESS MAN. JONATHAN SHOULD RECOUNT HOW MANY PLANE CRASH NIGERIA HAVE RECORDED UNDER HIS REGIME AND NUMBER OF LIVES LOST. THIS WAS AS A RESULT OF CAREFREE ATTITUDE BY OUR LEADERS AND THEIR SO CALLED MINISTERS TOWARDS LACK OF MAINTAINANCE CULTURE. THEY ARE NOW WAITING FOR THE BRIDGES TO COLLAPSED AND KILLED MANY PEOPLE BEFORE THEY WILL COMMENCE WORK, GOD FORBID. PERAONALLY , I THANKED THE TWO SENATORS THAT PRESENTED THE MOTION ON THE FLOOR FOR HEARING THAT GOD WILL CONTINUE TO BLESS SUCH ONES WITH THE MASSES PROBLEMS IN HEART. SENATORS HOPE UZODIMA AND GBENGA ASHAFA.
One tin abt dis nation we hv sluggish leadership dat focus only on poor admistration.bt i pray dat whn dis wl happn it wil reach dem.i nearly collapsed last tym i travelld cos i sense sm effects. God wl alwys b for his ppl.
Do these shameless leaders read these posts? Are they so wicked that the lives of those who voted them into office mean nothing cult that feed on human blood, otherwise, what other explanation can one proffer for their adamant attitude towards protecting the lives and property of innocent Nigerians? May God cause them to repent.
The FGN must be held responsible for any loss of soul that may arise from this.Nigerians have complained enough about these bridges.Orji Uzor Kalu complained about niger bridge last december.These bridges are not meant to carry stationery vehicles but still it is so.In this country we never avoid disaster but would want to wash&swim in it.May GOD save us from an impending but sure disaster in-waiting.
Do these shameless leaders read these posts? Are they so wicked that the lives of those who voted them into office mean nothing to them? These vampires must belong to an occult group that feed on human blood, otherwise, what other explanation can one proffer for their adamant attitude towards protecting the lives and property of innocent Nigerians? May God cause them to repent.
THE PROBLEM WITH OUR POLITICIANS IS THAT WHEN IT COMES TO READING OF BUDGET AND SHARING THE MONEY,THEY DONT WASTE TIME.BUT THE BRIDGE SITUATION LIKE THIS WHICH WE ALL USE DAILY,THEY CANNOT REPAIR IT.GOD WILL SURELY PUNISH U ALL
THE NIGER BRIDGE IS IN A TOTAL BAD STATE, SOMETHIN HAS TO BE DONE NOW . I KNOW GEJ IS WAITING 4 A BOMB TO BE THROWN B4, BEING ONTOP OF D SITUATION.
MUMU PEOPLE ! NDI ISIKOM KOM
I pray d executive arm to impliment d upper chambers resolutns on dos bidges b4 is late. Its efects may b disastrious dan flood.
Mr president should buckle up. Are u sleeping or crawling? Mind u that ur days are numbered. If u don’t take time, u will come out of that seat with shamefulness. Do u really know that all Nigerians are watching u. It is better not to make a promise than to promise and fail to do it. Mr president, Wake up ooo.
Leaders, una hear laamu!! una lie lie, i wil i will, don over full for the river. wettin the bridge go naw? na to carry people enter water one day! i will drill river niger for seaport, i wil commissioned for the second niger breeze, i will generate more mega wax for steady electricity, i wil, i will, i, i… una still dey where una dey! making people oooooooohhhhhh like a train.
Believe me almost all our leaders can’t sing Nigerian pledge, so how do you expect them to protect what better leaders built when they are busy looting not to talk of building new ones. Nigeria has fallen into ythe hands of thieves.