Residents of Tsangaya, Maje, Mulka bridge in Ningi Local Government of Bauchi state have begged the federal government to quickly reconstruct the Mulka bridge which collapsed recently following heavy rainfall.
North East Trust correspondent, who visited the site, reports that temporary repairs, directed by the state government, have been completed.
The bridge is the main link between the state and neighbouring Kano state.
A resident of Tsangaya Abubakar Aliyu commended the state government for its quite response particularly the filling of the cutoff side of the Bauchi-Kano road which has opened up the highway one week after the disaster.
Aliyu, however lamented that the reconstruction of the road was hurriedly and poorly done. “Even last Monday a torrential rainfall washed away parts of the newly reconstructed sites. The company had to refill the site with heavy stones again before putting asphalt. We are appealing to Federal Government to construct a standard bridge at the area to end the loss of lives and properties on annual basis in Tsangaya.”
A youth leader in Tsangaya Usaini Aliyu, said the temporary measures that filled the cutoff portions of the road might not last to the end of the rainy season due to the poor work done. ’’They used only stones and sand without cement in filling the washed away portions. We pray that the volume of water that usually passes through Mulka bridge will not wash away the stones used in filling the cutoff side.”
Aliyu also lamented that the flood had submerged both sides of the shoulders of the reconstructed side and now exposed motorists to danger because of the bend at the beginning and end of the bridge.
“We are appealing to the federal government to quickly intervene by constructing a bridge to save thousands of lives of the people who use the bridge.”
Malam Adamu Baushe, another resident, said: “We must commend the state government for the intervention. I equally appeal to both the state and federal governments as well as corporate bodies to assist the affected farmers whose crops were destroyed by the flood. Almost all the farmers who planted their crops along the river sides have lost them.’’
An elder, Malam Usman Shuaibu, the recurring flood at the bridge was cause by the diversion of a water way.
“The only solution to the recurrent flood at the Mulka bridge is for the government to construct a standard bridge that will accommodate the high volume water flowing from the river.
“We are appealing to both federal and state governments to construct a bigger bridge as a permanent solution to the recurring flood at the Mulka bridge,” Shuaibu added.
