Pains of commuting, anger among residents and different kinds of reaction have trailed the friday collapse of Ikem bridge across Ebenyi River in Isi-Uzo local government area of Enugu state.
The hanging bridge built by the Nigeria army shortly after the Biafra war, finally succumbed to total collapse on Friday when a Dangote truck carry 900 bags of cement rested on it.
Many communities in Enugu, Ebonyi, Benue and other Northern states have been cut off, including Udenu, and Neke, home local government and community of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and the Chairman of Isi-Uzo LGA, Augustine Nnamani, respectively.
Residents on Saturday quickly commenced putting up a makeshift bamboo bridge to trek across the river to get to their homes and neigbours. “Its now a divided kingdom,” said Mr. Frank Nnamani, who was cut of between his home and his block industry across the river.
Buses plying Ehamufu to Enugu now terminate at different ends of the river and swim across to continue their journey just as the incident has divided the community’s Orie market into two, with one at its original market venue and the new one at Ikem junction across the Ebenyi river.
Mr. Nnamani who lamented the plight said: “Now that there is nothing to manage again as we were managing, the best thing is for the state government to remoblize the contractor that absconded from the site to continue work on the concrete span bridge abandoned by the past state administration.”
Some other residents interacted with said “It is even good that the bridge has come to an end so that attention will be paid to the abandoned bridge contract.”
Reactions have also been expressed by the different people who learnt about the development: Mr. Emma Nweze, a journalist said: “We should pray for Nigeria. How can such a bridge be found in a country called giant of Africa?”
N’dozie Odunze in Lagos suggested that the 900 bags of cement be used in constructing the bridge, while Albert Ejike, an indegen of Ikem residing in Lagos blamed the Isi-Uzo LGA administration for the disaster.
Silas Okwor living in Germany said “its very sad.” Emeka Ogene from Ehamufu lamented that whereas there is no thoroughfare through Nkalagu in Ebonyi state for the same bad bridge and road, the only alternative route which was Ikem is now no more.
An Abuja-based legal practitioner from Neke, Austin Nwaro, said: “This ugly incident really provokes the thought of asking the necessity of local government administration. Is LG as third tier of government actually necessary or better still are they doing what they are supposed to do vis-a-vis the amount of money allocated to them?”
Chairman of Isi-Uzo LGA, Augustine Nnamani, who previously interacted with our reporter maintained that his council has been spending money to maintain the collapsed bridge, adding that the council is still making monthly contributions to the state government for the Enugu-Ikem road project that 90 percent of the contract has been completed about two years ago.
Another resident of Ikem community said the local government has mandated the member representing Isi-Uzo state constituency at the Enugu state House of Assembly, Dr. Emeka Ogbuabor, to immediately move a motion on mater of urgent importance on the floor of the house to cause attention to the tragedy in his constituency.
