By
Babangida Galleon
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate construction of Wagga Bridge which has been washed away by erosion in Madagali local government of Adamawa state.
The Managing Director, North East Development Commission NEDC, Mohammed Alkali Goni stated this while speaking to newsmen shortly after inspecting the bridge in Madagali.
Mohammed Alkali Goni said upon receiving the report of the devastating incident, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved that the commission immediately commence the construction to avoid further escalation of the devastating incident in the area.
” what you’ve seen here today is about three times of what we saw the last time we came, all of you know that when we came we haven’t seen this much people lingering around. They are not here for fun because if you now come from Maiduguri side you must stop there, but the good thing is tht the president has approved that and the construction of the bridge will start immediately “.
Alkali Goni explained that the situation became worrisome as it seriously affected the source of livelihood of the people living there, hence the approval by the president to immediately begin the construction of the bridge to avoid its reoccurrence soon.
According to the managing director, the Commission team and the Contractors are on physical assessment and inspection to provide temporary measures that will bring succor to the people at the moment before it commences the bridge construction.
” you can see people coming from Borno they have to stay there either been ferried or whatsoever, but since we are here, the contractor is here, our engineers are here, we will look to see what can done .”
Also inspected was the Wautu bridge in Michika local government area where the Managing Director assured that the bridge which was halfway cut off along with all other supporting culverts on that axis would be constructed as approved by the president.
Residents and motorists who spoke to Journalists lamented the hardship they have been experiencing as a result of cutoff bridges and bad roads in that area.
“people are suffering, people are stranded even going to farm and day to day’s job have been stopped ”
They pleaded to both the state and federal governments to provide permanent solutions to the problems as this is the road they ply daily to sustain their lives.
It could be recalled that Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri also visited the Wagga bridge last month and promised to contact the North East Development Commission for immediate necessary measures that will help in fixing the bridge which is situated on the federal road linking Adamawa and Borno states.
