The Nigerian Government has directed the shutting down of its Moro bridge in Asa local government of Kwara State, directing the contractor handling the new bridge to immediately return to site to resume work.
A source in the federal ministry of Works in Abuja said the bridge had to be shut down after the state government wrote to express grave concerns about the safety of commuters along the route.
“People will have to take Eyenkorin road or the Malete route pending when the bridge is put in good shape,” the source said.
He said the bridge will be shut latest by 4pm on Friday for safety reasons.
It would be recalled that the Federal Government had long awarded the construction of another bridge just beside the old (colonial) Bailey bridge in Asa local government of Kwara State, but the job appears to have stuck owing to fund release and disagreements over variation requests.
The new bridge will replace the colonial-era bridge which is on the A7 Route in Igbeti Axis.
The Kwara State Government had recently written to the Federal Ministry of Works to request immediate action on the shaky bridge. On Friday however, a video surfaced on social media showing that the bridge had deteriorated, putting lives at risk.