Taraba University Don Tasks FG On Reconstruction Of Collapse Namnai Bridge
By Kator Terseer, Jalingo
A University Don, Professor John Ajai of the Taraba State University Jalingo, on Wednesday wrote an open letter to the Federal Government, reminding it of the collapsed Namnai Bridge on the Jalingo to Wukari road.
Ajai noted that the bridge, which connects Benue, Adamawa and other northern States, has been in a state of disrepair for over a year, causing significant economic and social impacts on the region.
In his letter, Professor Ajai shared his personal experience of crossing the collapsed section of the bridge using a ferry.
Prof John Ajai
He described the experience as frightening and dangerous, with the ferry operator’s miscalculation, causing the boat’s propeller to get stuck in the sand.
Professor Ajai called on the Federal Government to treat the reconstruction of the Namnai Bridge as an emergency, urging the government to mobilize necessary resources, deploy qualified contractors, and reopen the vital corridor to restore safe and reliable movement across the region.
“It has been exactly one year since the Namnai Bridge on the Jalingo to Wukari road collapsed. This bridge is located in Taraba State and sits on a major federal route that connects Benue and Adamawa States. More broadly, it links the North Central region to both the North East and the North West. Despite its strategic importance as a Trunk A federal road, there has been no meaningful federal effort to repair or reconstruct the bridge.
“The consequences of this inaction are not theoretical. I am speaking from direct personal experience. Just last week, I had to travel along this route and cross the collapsed section using a ferry. What should have been a routine crossing quickly turned into a frightening and dangerous episode.
“The ferry operator miscalculated. The boat’s propeller got stuck in the sand. We could not berth. Passengers had to be evacuated under tense and unsafe conditions. The buses on board remained stranded for more than thirty minutes. It was a deeply unsettling experience. I thank God that no lives were lost that day, but that was due to divine mercy, not because proper safety measures were in place.
“This situation is more than an inconvenience. It is a daily source of risk and hardship for thousands of commuters, traders, students, and families. With the Namnai Bridge still out of service, people are forced to make dangerous river crossings just to continue their journeys. The economic impact is serious. The human cost is even more alarming.
“It is deeply concerning that the Federal Government has allowed such an important piece of infrastructure to remain in this condition for over twelve months. The Namnai Bridge is not a local road. It is a federal responsibility. The Ministry of Works and Housing and the Federal Road Maintenance Agency are fully aware that this is a Trunk A route. Yet nothing concrete has been done to restore it. No contractors have been mobilized. No timelines have been communicated. No progress has been made.
“I am also using this opportunity to appeal to the elected representatives from Taraba State in the National Assembly. You may not be directly responsible for the execution of federal works, but you are in a position to raise this issue forcefully. Your voices matter. Your silence also speaks volumes,” he said.
