Flood has carpeted Ogbogbo river bridge along Nwiboko Obodo road in Ebonyi State and crippled the road users' movement for their daily businesses in the area.
Ogbogbo bridge links Ebonyi and Mbeke Development Centres in Ebonyi Council Area of the state but it has been covered by flood following the downpours that repeatedly took place in the area few days ago.
The bridge is made of woods, with its deplorable condition has led to lost of many lives and properties especially in a situation where flood covers it.
NATIONAL PANEL gathered that the bridge was reconstructed by the people of Ekebeligwe Ishieke in Mbeke Development Centre, with huge money invested on it, through the effort of their village leadership and the Catholic Priest in the area, but the flood has frustrated all their efforts, leaving the road users with many scores of wastes and disappoinment.
We equally learnt that the contractor who was awarded the road leading to the bridge has bye-passed it without fixing the bridge which connects the two development centres and Benue State.
Sources who interacted with NATIONAL PANEL expressed anger over the abandonment of the bridge by the contractor and however, pleaded the state government to reactivate work on the bridge and the remaining part of the community road.
"Bye-passing this bridge by the contactor is not good. The state government has already awarded this road. The contractor constructed this road with a concrete pavement, but when he reached this bridge, he bye-passed this bridge.
He constructed the road, getting to Holy Family Parish in Ekebeligwe Ishieke and not minding to give this bridge a standard construction as promised by our governor, Chief Dave Umahi, like other unity bridges in Ebonyi State; it is not acceptable.
"I have seen that the contractor has packed all the equipment out from the site. Their machines are no longer at their site within this area, and this bridge was bye passed without giving it a standard touch, it is not good.
"Must the road users or those plying it fly with their vehicles, knowing fully well this is only link between Ebonyi and Mbeke Development Centres in this area.
"We request that the state government should never allow the contractor to go without working on the bridge, and if possible, other part of this road, at least to St. Michael, Isiophumini-Mbeke should be completed in Governor Dave Umahi's road model", Pastor Sam Ogodo exploded.
Similarly, the traditional ruler of Ndiebor Ishieke Autonomous Community, HRH Eze Patrick Aloh, commended the effort of the state Governor, David Umahi on road construction in the area.
Eze Alo who is yet to receive a staff of office, urged the state governor to use his office to construct the said Ogbogbo bridge and the remaining part of Nwiboko Obodo road in considering their deplorable nature, and prayed for the governor's elevation by God for bringing dividends of democracy to the grassroots in his present administration.
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