By Peter Omopo
The Senate on Wednesday urged the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the collapse of a key bridge and the deteriorated sections of the Okija Spur Road in Anambra State, warning that continued delay could endanger lives and worsen economic hardship in affected communities.
Specifically, the upper legislative chamber called on the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to carry out immediate engineering inspections of the collapsed old bridge and all failed portions of the Okija Spur Road. It also urged the agencies to initiate emergency measures to restore, at least, temporary and safe connectivity along the corridor.
The Senate further mandated its Committee on Works to oversee all intervention efforts relating to the Okija Spur Road, the collapsed bridge and the completion of the new bridge currently under construction.
These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion titled “Need for the rehabilitation of Okija Spur–Ihembosi–Ukpor–Ebenator–Ezinifite Road”, sponsored by Senator Emmanuel Nwachukwu (APGA, Anambra South) during plenary.
While presenting the motion, Nwachukwu described the Okija Spur–Okija through Afor Ukpor to Ebenator and Ezinifite Road as one of the most critical intra-regional routes in Anambra South Senatorial District, serving as a major link for commerce, agriculture, education, healthcare access and other socio-economic activities across several communities.
He informed the Senate that the old bridge along the route collapsed on March 5, 2025, completely cutting off movement, endangering lives and severely disrupting economic and social activities in the area.
According to him, the new bridge over the Ulasi Stream, which has been under construction for more than a decade, is only about 70 per cent completed, with pillars erected and deck components fabricated but not installed, leaving the structure non-operational and the corridor largely impassable.
Nwachukwu expressed concern that the collapse of the old bridge, combined with the incomplete status of the new bridge and the poor condition of several sections of the Okija Spur Road—particularly between Ukpor and Ebenator—has increased safety risks, raised transportation costs and compounded hardship for residents and road users.
He stressed that the urgent completion of the new bridge and immediate intervention on the collapsed old bridge are critical to restoring movement, pending the full rehabilitation of the remaining failed sections of the road.
Contributing, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, directed the Committee on Works to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA to ensure the prompt completion of the project. He noted the need to improve safety along the corridor, especially amid concerns over criminal activities, including kidnapping and banditry.
The Senate emphasised that swift federal action is necessary to stabilise the corridor, restore access, support local livelihoods and prevent further deterioration of the vital infrastructure.
