By Palang KasmiPlateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong has held fruitful talks with the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola on the need to reconstruct the collapsed Wase-Lantang bridge.
Lalong who visited the minister at the ministry’s headquarters in Mabushi had informed the minister that the people of Wase, Langtang and others plying the road up to Taraba State are completely cut off as a result of the bridge collapse.
A statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Affairs, Machut Simon Macham quoted the governor as saying, “I took a personal visit to the area to see things for myself last week and as you know, it is a federal road.
From what I saw, it is something that needs the federal financial might to fix. I have asked my people to provide boats as alternatives for now, but this cannot be sustained for a long time considering the economic activities that take place in the area.
We need the quick intervention of the Federal Government which is why I decided to pay this visit to you”.
Lalong thanked the Federal Government for support in carrying out road projects in Plateau State, particularly the Longvel- Yelwa-Ajikamai-Ibi-Federal Road which is being constructed by the State Government with the hope of refund afterwards.
Responding, Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola sympathised with the people of Plateau State and the immediate local Governments of Wase, Lantang and other areas who have been negatively impacted by the bridge collapse.
He said already, the Federal Controller of Works in Plateau State has filed a report with a recommendation for the replacement of the bridge as the collapsed one is old.
He said the Ministry has commenced design and costing of the new concrete bridge which will take two months to complete.
He directed that immediate palliative work should be carried out to restore temporary connection for people of the area while the permanent solution is being worked out.
The Minister and Governor agreed to set up a team on both sides to follow up on the intervention.
