Kwara Transport Unions Urge Tinubu To Complete Abandoned Bridges
Transport unions in Kwara State have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene in the completion of the abandoned Oko-Olowo/Moro Bridge and Ohan Bridge projects, warning that the prolonged neglect of the infrastructure is worsening economic hardship in Kwara North.
The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) made the appeal during a joint press conference in Ilorin, describing the bridges as critical routes linking communities in Kwara North with other parts of the state and neighbouring Oyo State.
Speaking on behalf of the unions, RTEAN Kwara State Chairman, Alhaji AbdulRahman Onikijipa, said the abandonment of the projects had negatively affected residents, transport operators, traders and government institutions in the area.
He explained that the Oko-Olowo/Moro Bridge project, which began in 2017 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, serves as a major access route to Kaiama and Baruten Local Government Areas through communities in Oyo State, including Kishi, Igbeti, Igboho and Iseyin.
“The economic and social life of the people of Kwara State has been in jeopardy since the Oko-Olowo/Moro Bridge project was abandoned,” Onikijipa said.
He noted that Kwara North, regarded as the food-producing hub of the state, had suffered significant setbacks due to the collapse of the bridge and the poor condition of alternative routes.
The union leader also raised concerns over the collapse of the Ohan River iron bridge, a colonial-era structure that has further isolated communities in the area.
According to him, transport operators have been forced to create temporary routes through the river while awaiting the completion of the replacement bridge, which he said was only about 40 per cent completed.
He said the situation had caused serious economic difficulties for drivers and transport workers, especially during the rainy season when the makeshift routes become inaccessible.
“We are always out of work during the rainy season because the alternative routes become unusable. This affects our ability to cater for our families and meet our tax obligations,” he said.
The unions also expressed concern over frequent cases of vehicles getting trapped while attempting to cross the river, exposing commuters to safety and security risks.
Onikijipa added that the poor road situation had affected emergency and judicial services, including the movement of ambulances conveying patients to Ilorin and the transportation of inmates and suspects from the Mandala correctional facility to courts.
He warned that continued failure to complete the bridges could also affect electoral activities in Kwara North, particularly during the rainy season when access to some communities becomes difficult.
“If sensitive and non-sensitive election materials cannot be delivered to polling units because of inaccessible roads, the credibility of such elections could be questioned,” he said.
The transport unions urged President Tinubu to direct the Minister of Works to expedite action on both projects to restore economic activities and ease the hardship faced by residents.
They also appealed to Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to intervene and work with relevant authorities towards finding a lasting solution to the infrastructure challenges.
