The Bauchi State Government, says it has ordered for the immediate palliative work on Gadar-Maiwa bridge along Bauchi-Ningi road eroded by heavy downpour on Thursday.
Gov. Bala Mohammed disclosed this on Saturday while inspecting the affected bridge at Gadar-Maiwa community in Ningi Local Government Area of the state.
Mr Mohammed said the state government had mobilsed two construction firms, Mother Cat and TRIACTA Nigeria Ltd to undertake palliative work on the destroyed bridge.
He said that three lives were lost when water swept a passenger vehicle, adding that two corpses had been recovered from the river.
The governor urged the Federal Government to provide durable solution to the recurring problem to resume movement of goods and services on the road.
He said the destruction of the bridge cut off movement on the road linking the Northeast and the Northwest region of the country, adding that “Kano, Jigawa and parts of the Northeast had been cut off.”
Also commenting on flood control projects, Mr Mohammed said his administration required about N10 billion Federal Government’s intervention to construct and rehabilitate drains and waterways in Bauchi metropolis.
Mr Mohammed said the fund would be utilise to execute flood control project, to protect lives and property as well as curb outbreak of waterborne diseases.
The governor reiterated his administration commitment to secure the environment and protect the ecosystem.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that torrential rainfall which lasted for several hours on Thursday swept the Gadar-Maiwa bridge, thereby, cutting off transportation activities between Bauchi, Kano and Jigawa States.
The rain also swept away Nabordo bridge on Bauchi-Jos road.
NAN
