Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah on Monday directed the Federal Government to make the federal route from the federal to the state government more accessible.
He stated that this is important to assure the road’s durability because “the current model of road maintenance has failed.”
Mbah made the recommendation on Monday while viewing the collapsed flyover on the federal route connecting Enugu and Port Harcourt.
“This clearly demonstrates that we do not have the appropriate federal maintenance model.” There is an urgent need to implement a new road maintenance model.
“The bridge does not simply collapse. This collapse would not have occurred if maintenance was undertaken on a regular or infrequent basis.
“The state should control the road in their domain and negotiate the funding model,” Mbah stated.
The Governor praised God that no one was killed in the tragedy on Monday.
“We are now watching the horror that has just occurred here. We are fortunate that no lives were lost, but it could have been avoided.
“People can’t ply this road anymore because of this tragedy,” he stated.
Mr. Gerald Otiji, the State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, recommended travellers to avoid the fallen bridge region and instead take alternate routes to their destinations.
Otiji stated that alternate routes will be taken while the government worked to replace the bridge’s failed section.
