Gombe Bridge Collapses After Downpour

• A bridge on the Bauchi-Gombe federal highway collapsed due to heavy rain, causing commuter inconvenience and traffic diversion
• This is a recurring issue, with previous instances of bridges collapsing or roads being washed away during downpours

On Sunday morning, a bridge along the Bauchi-Gombe federal highway was closed, leaving commuters stranded.

Daily Trust reports that this is the umpteenth time in recent years that a bridge or portion of the road would be washed away after downpour.

Last year, a road bridge that was being repaired collapsed three times.

According to reports, the recent collapse occurred following a downpour that lasted several hours between Saturday night and Sunday morning.

The road connects commuters from other parts of the country to the North East states of Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, and Borno via Bauchi.

Traffic along the axis is currently diverted to the Bauchi-Darazo-Dukku-Gombe road, which adds 78 kilometres to the journey from Bauchi to Gombe.

Abia govt bans use of motorcycles

Abia State Government has banned using motorcycles, otherwise known as ‘Okada’ in Umuahia, the state capital, and Aba, the commercial nerve centre.

This was contained in a press statement released Sunday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alex Otti, Mr Kazie Uko.

Although there were no reasons for the ban, the statement said the ban would become effective from Monday, August 14.

The statement read in part:

Effective Monday, August 14, 2023, any motorcycle seen on the streets of Umuahia and Aba townships being used for such purpose will be impounded by the security agencies.

According to the statement, security agencies have been directed to arrest any individual caught violating the order, for possible prosecution.

It urged members of the public to comply with the order.

Meanwhile, Governor Alex Otti inaugurated the Abia State Civil Service Reform Committee last week with a charge for the committee to work to achieve the present administration’s vision in civil service, with Dr. Chibueze Ukaegbu as the Chairman of the Committee.

The newly established committee has been entrusted with the pivotal task of reviewing the existing civil service structure and Command Promotions carried out from 2007 to the present day, alongside other essential recommendations.