Residents have called on the state and federal governments to come to their rescue over a dilapidated bridge in Kaduna, which is said to have been unrepaired for over 10 years.
The bridge is said to be the main bridge to Kaduna town, located in Gonin-Gora Gora community along Kaduna-Abuja express way.
The rails of the bridge got damaged for over 10 years and have since not been repaired. This has led to accidents in which cars and buses have fallen into the river.
NatureNews.Africa correspondent at the weekend, spoke to residents, who informed that, recently, a bus carrying passengers fell into the river, leaving some of the passengers injured.
They said that they had accepted their fate to live with the situation.
According to them, they have pleaded with the government to come to their rescue for a long time but all to no avail.
NatureNews recalls that residents have always called on the government to alleviate the situation for them, but little or no positive response has been given to the situation.
In 2015, some residents who spoke to Daily Trust accused the Kaduna State government of turning deaf ears to their cries over the increasing rate of auto-crashes along the highway.
Gonin- Gora, a major transit route for travellers coming from Abuja or Niger and passing through Kaduna to Zaria or Kano and vice versa; is a death trap for passers-by and pedestrians who use the road on a daily basis, the report said.
Following the consistent wailings from residents, in 2016, the late Governor Patrick Yakowa attempted to address the problem by awarding contracts for the construction and rehabilitation of 32 roads across the state, mostly within the metropolis at a total cost of N28 billion.
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Yakowa also constructed another road connecting the Southern part of the city from Angwan NNPC Area office in Angwan Rimi area of the metropolis to the KRPC junction as part of efforts to address traffic congestion around the Station Market area.
Unfortunately he died in December 2012 in a helicopter crash in Bayelsa State and most of the road projects were abandoned by the lack lustre administration of Ramalan Yero who succeeded him as governor.
In 2017, Governor Nasir el-Rufai also embarked on massive road construction, expansion and rehabilitation across the state, thus raising the hope of residents who have been looking up to government to ameliorate their suffering as it concerns provision of good road network and access roads, particularly within the metropolis.
The State Commissioner of Works during El-Rufai’s administration, Mr. Ibrahim Uthman, had informed the people of the state government plans to complete a bridge and the 16 kilometre township road project in Gonin Gora, Chikun Local Government Area of the state abandoned since 2012.
The road project was awarded at the cost of N640 million but had been abandoned by the contractor since 2012, he said.
Mr. Uthman, during a site inspection tour said the state government had sued the former contractor to recover the undisclosed amount of money paid to him as mobilisation since 2012.
He said the project will be completed by the new contractor before the commencement of rainy season.
Gov El-Rufai was also giving feedback on the completion of road projects in Gonin-Gora but the construction of the bridge was barely mentioned.
Six years after, residents are still complaining and calling on the government to immediately repair the bridge.
At the time of filing this report, efforts to speak to the community officials concerning the current intervention of the government proved abortive.
Speaking to commuters and motorists, they urged the government to speedily approach the situation before the raining season as the situation will worsen when rain starts.
