Commuters were left stranded on Thursday after a trailer reportedly somersaulted, triggering the collapse of a key bridge in the Moro area of Kwara State, linking parts of the state to neighbouring Oyo........…
The incident occurred in the Oko Olowo area of Ilorin, .... the Kwara State capital, cutting off a major route that connects Ilorin to towns such as Saki and Igbeti in Oyo State, as well as parts of Kwara North.
The bridge is considered a critical corridor for the movement of goods and services.
A video shared by BBC Yoruba showed a trailer overturned beneath the collapsed structure, while commuters were seen stranded on both sides of the road.
A resident, Abdulateef, who spoke to.... BBC Yoruba, said the bridge had long shown signs of failure.
“The bridge has been showing signs of collapse for a long time, but nothing was done. Even the new one beside it has been under construction for over 15 years,” he said.
He appealed to the government to act quickly, warning that the situation could disrupt economic activities in the area.
“This road is very important to us. The government should come to our rescue because this will affect our livelihood,” he added.
Confirming the development, the Kwara State Government, through the Ministry of Works, said the bridge “collapsed overnight under the weight of a heavy-duty truck.”
In a statement signed by the ministry’s Press Secretary, Olajide Moyo Abolarin, authorities announced immediate traffic diversion and the deployment of traffic managers to control movement in the area.
The government added that it is working with the Federal Government to provide alternative routes to ease congestion, while urging motorists to remain cautious.
“State traffic managers are to work with transport unions and commuters to ensure orderly movement along the alternative routes, while palliative work begins immediately on the old iron bridge,” the statement said.
Officials also called for patience from road users as efforts continue to address the situation.…READ / MORE…
