Residents stranded as Kwali bridge collapses

Residents of Dafa, Tunga and Gwomani communities in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been left stranded as a reconstructed bridge connecting them has been washed away by a flood.

The bridge which connects over 16 communities was reconstructed by the Department of Agricultural and Rural Development of the FCT Administration (FCTA) after a Daily Trust report in October 2020.

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The chiefs and residents of the affected communities, especially farmers, expressed frustration about the collapsed bridge, which they said was causing them hardship.

Aso Chronicle visited the site and saw youths taking advantage of the collapsed bridge to collect between N100 and N200 to cross motorcycles and luggage.

A farmer, Bamaiyi Yakubu, said he was finding it difficult to access his farm since the bridge collapsed, explaining that he only managed to visit the farm whenever the water level reduced.

He further said, “The only alternative since the bridge collapsed two weeks ago is either to wait till the water level goes down or engage some youths by giving them either N100 or N200 to help you cross with your luggage or motorcycle.”

One of the youths, Joshua Bala, told our reporter that they assisted residents to cross with their motorcycles and luggage by collecting N100 or N200.

He said, “Since there are no canoes, we decided to mobilise to the river and task those who are willing to give us N100 or N200 to help them cross the river with their motorcycles or luggage.”

The Chief of Gwomani, Alhaji Adamu Saba, said since the bridge collapsed, farming and other economic activities had been affected.

He said the bridge was the only link to over 16 communities, noting that people from neighbouring communities had been completely disconnected.

Alhaji Adamu, therefore, appealed to the FCTA to come to the aid of his subjects by reconstructing the bridge to enable them, especially farmers, to access their farms.

He said, “Our people are peasant farmers and a majority of them have farms across the river, and we are almost approaching harvest period and we need to transport our crops back home or to the market.”

The Chairman of Kwali, Danladi Chiya, said the council would write to the office of the FCT minister for urgent action, especially as it affected farmers who were about to start harvest.