Residents of Ikot Mfon, a rural community in Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, have called on Governor Umo Eno to urgently reconstruct the collapsed Ikot Mfon/Ndiya Bridge, which they say has claimed at least three lives and cut them off from neighboring communities.
The prefabricated bridge, originally built by the military during the Nigerian Civil War to aid troop movements, had served as the main access route for motorists, trucks, and pedestrians transporting agricultural produce to markets. However, since its collapse in 2011, socio-economic activities in the community have been crippled.
Mr. Ekaette Akpan, speaking on behalf of the village head on Tuesday, lamented that schoolchildren and other residents had died attempting to cross the collapsed structure. He was accompanied by the deputy village head, Obong Safety Tony, who emphasized that urgent intervention is needed to prevent further casualties.
“Since the bridge collapsed in 2011, more than three people have lost their lives. Beyond that, our economic activities have been severely impacted because this was our only access route to Ndiya, which connects us to Eket, Oron, and other parts of Akwa Ibom State.”
Akpan recalled that in July 2023, Hon. Uduak Ekpo-Ufot, the Etinan State Constituency representative, had raised a motion before the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, urging the government to take immediate action. The lawmaker noted that the bridge, built around 1970, had caused several fatalities and left residents struggling to access education and healthcare in neighboring Ndiya, Nsit Ubium LGA.
Since the collapse, residents have resorted to using rickety boats for daily transportation, exposing them to further risks. The community is now pleading with Governor Umo Eno to prioritize the bridge reconstruction and restore normalcy to their lives.
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