Kwara Transport Unions Urge Tinubu to Finish Abandoned Bridges Amidst Economic Hardship

Transport unions in Nigeria's Kwara State have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to expedite the completion of the Oko-Olowo/Moro Bridge and Ohan Bridge projects. These vital infrastructure links, connecting Kwara North communities to the rest of the state and neighboring Oyo State, have been abandoned since 2017.

The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) highlighted the severe challenges residents, transport operators, and traders face due to the neglect. The Oko-Olowo/Moro Bridge is a crucial route for accessing Kaiama and Baruten Local Government Areas via communities in Oyo State. Its abandonment has jeopardized the economic and social life of the region, which is considered the state's food basket.

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The economic and social life of the people of Kwara State has been in jeopardy since the Oko-Olowo/Moro Bridge project was abandoned.

Compounding the transportation difficulties, the collapse of the Ohan River iron bridge, a colonial-era structure, has effectively cut off parts of Kwara North. While unions have improvised alternative river crossings, these become unusable during the rainy season. This leads to seasonal unemployment for drivers, impacting their ability to support their families and meet tax obligations.

The unions also raised concerns about safety risks, including vehicles getting trapped while crossing the improvised routes. This situation further complicates justice administration, hindering the transport of inmates and suspects, and impedes ambulances carrying patients to Ilorin for medical attention.

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We are always out of work during the rainy season because the alternative routes become unusable. This affects our ability to cater for our families and meet our tax obligations.