Angwan Sunday Bridge, Kaduna State

The residents of Angwan Sunday community in Kaduna metropolis have appealed to Governor Uba Sani and other relevant elected representatives in the State to urgently rehabilitate a deteriorating bridge linking the community with neighbouring areas.

The residents said the worsening condition of the bridge, located on Nuhu Yahaya street had become a major concern, as it was affecting movement and creating difficulties for motorists, pedestrians and schoolchildren who ply the route daily.

Speaking with journalists in Kaduna, the Chairman of the concerned community committee, Sebastian Michael, urged the state government, their representatives in the House of Representatives and other relevant authorities to intervene before the bridge collapses completely.

Michael described the bridge as a vital link connecting Television, Barnawa and High Cross Junction, stressing that its rehabilitation would ease movement and improve access to several communities in the area.

He said residents had made several efforts over the years to address the deteriorating infrastructure through community interventions, but lacked the financial capacity to undertake the major rehabilitation required.

“Our best cannot be good enough to build the bridge. You can see it is at the verge of collapse. We are appealing to the government to come to our aid because it is very necessary at this point,” he said.

Michael, who said he had lived in the area since 1974, appealed to the authorities to treat the rehabilitation of the Angwan Sunday Bridge as an emergency to prevent a possible collapse and its attendant consequences.

Also speaking, a traditional title holder in the community, known as Dakechi, Iliya Aliko, said residents had repeatedly drawn the attention of the local government authorities to the poor condition of the road and bridge.

According to him, government officials had visited the area to assess the situation, but residents were yet to see any concrete intervention to address the problem.

A resident, Mrs Martha James Bakam, who said she had lived in the community for about 30 years, also called for urgent government action, particularly because of the difficulties faced by schoolchildren using the route.

Bakam said she had witnessed children struggling to cross the affected area, adding that the poor state of the road and bridge had also affected residents’ access to markets and other essential services.

She said residents had previously raised the issue with the relevant authorities and submitted a written appeal seeking government intervention.

The residents therefore urged the Kaduna State Government and other stakeholders to rehabilitate the bridge and adjoining road before the situation deteriorates further, stressing that the route remains important to the daily movement of people within Angwan Sunday and neighbouring communities.