| BRIDGE OBASANJO BUILT
•Like London bridge in the nursery rhyme, multi-million
Naira Itigidi bridge commissioned
by Obasanjo last May has collapsed
From BASSEY BASSEY, Calabar
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
 |
• PHOTO: Sun News Publishing
|
|
The multi-billion Naira Itigidi-Ediba bridge, in Abi Local
Government area of Cross River State, commissioned last May
by the former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has collapsed.
The bridge was constructed by an Italian firm, Gitto Group,
at the whopping cost of N7billion to link Cross River, Ebonyi
and Enugu states.
Contract for the construction of the bridge was first awarded
in the early 60’s by the defunct Eastern Nigeria government,
but the effort was scuttled by the Nigerian civil war. The
Obasanjo administration re-awarded the contract to the Italian
firm in 2002, while work started in 2003.
The collapsed bridge was one of the projects commissioned
by Obasanjo during the last days of his administration. The
bridge was named after the father of the Cross River State
Governor, the late Dr. Samuel Imoke.
The former president, during the commissioning described the
bridge as one of the legacies of his administration, saying:
"Those who say Obasanjo has not done anything should
come and see Itigidi bridge".
Barely six months after the commissioning, the bridge was
found to have spotted structural defects. These defects resulted
in the collapse of one of the piers. As the development poses
danger to motorists, the bridge has been closed to traffic.
Daily Sun learnt that engineers are battling
to rectify the defect by working to re-enforce the collapsed
pier.
The collapse of the new bridge has evoked anger among residents
of the area.
Mr. Samuel Ikpi said the Itigidi community was shocked to
see the bridge collapse so soon. He said if the re-construction
of the bridge is to be farmed out, it should be awarded to
a more competent construction company.
The Managing Director of Gitto, Mr. Domenico Gitto, had boasted,
during the commissioning of the bridge, that his company employed
the best technology in bridge building on the project. When
contacted, he declined comment.
|
