By Ralph Omololu Agbana.
The Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial district, Sunday Karimi has intervened in the reconstruction of the collapsed Pakuta Bridge in Bunuland, Kabbabunu Council, Kogi State. The road links Aiyegunle-Gbede in Ijumu Council to Kiri Kingdom in Kabbabunu Council. It also connects Kupa North and South, including Eggan communities in Lokoja Local Council. With the lawmaker’s intervention, residents along the axis have expressed hopes that the all-important road, which has disconnected communities in the area leading to neighbouring Niger State, will be motorable again.
This road hitherto awarded to Setraco Nigeria Limited, a construction company has been abandoned due to improper funding by the Federal Government, The Guardian gathered. Consequently, this has led to a total collapse of the vital Pakuta Bridge. Aside cutting off communities along the road, economically, its deplorable condition has negatively affected residents whose major source of livelihood is agriculture, as commuting their produce had become a challenge.
Professor Olu Obafemi, a renowned University Don and former President, Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA) who spoke in his capacity as the Asiwaju of Kiri Kingdom, confirmed yesterday that Senator Karimi has offered to take up the immediate reconstruction of the bridge, valued by a committee of experts, stakeholders and community representatives at N17m for the immediate commencement of works.
Obafemi thanked Senator Karimi for his “profound intervention”. He assured the Senator of the committee’s commitment to doing all that is possible to properly manage the fund while also monitoring the reconstruction work.
In a bid to ensure mobilisation of the contractors back to site for the completion of the road project, Karimi promised to look into the problem with the funding of the road, as contained in the original agreement between the Federal Government and Setraco Nig. Ltd.
According to Chief Femi Melefa, a community leader, “Ayetoro Gbede to Eggan is 87.8 kilometres. The contract for the construction was awarded to Setraco. Setraco did it to Suku and stopped. The road was re-awarded from Iluke to Eggan to Setraco. Setraco did it to old Giro village and stopped.
The new Works Minister, David Umahi came and said under him, Nigerian roads will be concrete slabs, which brought some confusion. I am sure you are aware of the controversy and face-off with contractors. The initial construction and even the one handled by Setraco have challenges, such as soil failure, gullies, and pits in many areas”.
