By Thompson Yamput
The Federal Government has assured that repair works on the damaged Koton-Karfe bridge on the Lokoja-Abuja road are nearing completion.
The Federal Controller of Works in Kogi, Mr Gana Patiko, gave the assurance in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja.
Patiko said there was no cause for alarm as portrayed in the viral video on the social media on the basis that a team of engineers from Works Ministry are presently engaged on the design works for the damaged bridge.
The Federal Controller of Works said that the damages on Kotonkarfe bridge were caused by a fuel tanker, which fell and caught fire under it.
The driver of the tanker was reckless, he lost control and fell under the bridge and the vehicle caught fire.
“It’s the fire that damaged part of the bridge. When our attention was drawn to it, we quickly assembled a team of engineers to assess the extent of damage.
“We are on it, and at the point of commencing repair works. We are appealing to motorists and commuters to bear with us for the inconvenience ” he pleaded.
He said the bridge has been closed to vehicular traffic and vehicles are diverted to the other carriageway to ensure public safety.
On some of the activities of the Ministry in Kogi State, Patiko disclosed that several road construction are on-going in the state.
These, he said are Shintaku – Anyigba road, Lokoja – Okene – Benin road and Abaji – Kotonkarfi road where two contractors are working.
“We have Trucrete Construction Company constructing Continuous Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) along Kotonkarfe – Abaji road, while Geld Construction Company is laying flexible pavement on the other carriageway.
“We have CRCP on one side of Abuja – Lokoja road, because of heavy – duty articulated vehicles coming from the southern part to the northern part of the country.
“The other side of Abuja – Lokoja road has flexible pavement, because vehicles heading down south are less heavy” , he said. NAN
