Bridge collapses in Ekiti; community, motorists lament

A bridge at the St. Paul’s Anglican Primary School, Ijan-Ekiti in Gbonyin Local government area of Ekiti State has collapsed.

The bridge collapsed on Saturday following downpours, was weakened by persistent erosion, overflow of water, as well increasing movements of heavy-duty vehicles along the Ado-Ijan-Omuo-Kabba-Abuja federal road.

The terrible situation came barely two weeks after the town lost its monarch and Onijan of Ijan Ekiti, Oba Oyewole Fadahunsi, who joined his ancestors, after reigning for 19 years.

The bridge, built during the military government in the old Ondo State, was said to have caved in due to persistent erosion and overflow of water in that axis.

Meanwhile, the people of the town and motorists plying the Ado Ekiti-Ijan-Ikare Akoko and the Ado Ekiti-Ijan-Abuja routes have lamented the collapse of the bridge.

They said the situation had cut off residents from the capital city and called on the federal and state governments to reconstruct the bridge.

Among communities affected by the collapsed bridge are Ijan, Iluomoba, Agbado, Aisegba, Imesi and Ode Ekiti, as well those travelling out of the state to Ondo, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory.

Residents said on Monday that the bridge, which caved in on Saturday following downpours, was weakened by persistent erosion, overflow of water, as well increasing movements of heavy duty vehicles along the Ado-Ijan-Omuo-Kabba-Abuja federal road in recent time.

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The Osodi of Ijan Ekiti, High Chief Kehinde Ojo, appealed to the federal and state governments to promptly reconstruct the bridge to restore normalcy on the road.

Ojo, who is the acting traditional head of Ijan Ekiti pending the appointment of a regent, stated that a letter was written to the state government on the need to take prompt action on the collapsed bridge.

The community leader said, “As we speak now, traffic along that route has been altered. Economic activities are also being affected because some of the vehicles carrying agriculture products to the market centres are affected.

“We should also look at the environmental hazard the portion poses to our people being in the heart of the town. The surroundings are being degraded due to erosion and this should not be allowed to continue.”

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