The Ministry of Works has announced ongoing repairs on the damaged deck of the Benin-bound Shagamu-Benin carriageway and urged road users not to panic.
Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, stated in a release by his Special Adviser on Media, Barrister Orji Uchenna Orji, in Abuja on Tuesday, that directives have been issued for the immediate dispatch of a team of engineers to the site of the damaged bridge at the border of Edo and Ondo States on the Shagamu-Benin carriageway.
The statement reads: “The bridge, which has a double carriageway, got visibly punctured at the Benin-bound end of the carriageway of the bridge within one span of the five spans of the bridge.”
The minister stressed that the immediate action was in line with the proactive approach to interventions by the Renewed Hope administration of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, which urged urgent action in such circumstances.
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He revealed that vehicular movement will resume on that section of the carriageway a maximum of 45 days after concrete works are completed.
It is worth recalling that a similar incident occurred on one of the spans in the past, and it was promptly repaired.
The statement added, “The damage being noticed on the said bridge is age-related deterioration. Bridges are susceptible to having their structures undermined as a result of old age.
“The Shagamu-Benin bridge was built in 1981, and the bridge deck is ageing. The life span of a bridge can vary significantly based on several factors, including the materials used, environmental conditions, traffic loads, and maintenance practices. This overtime causes issues like punctures, cracks, corrosion, or structural weakness.
“The Honourable Minister of Works assures that a permanent solution is underway for the Shagamu-Benin bridge, which is to remove the entire deck slab of the two sets of bridges in Ondo and Edo states, which are all within the same location, and rebuild the deck slab through innovative engineering technology. He apologises to the road users for the inconveniences they have suffered or will suffer during the period of the rehabilitation work.
He assures that the Federal Ministry of Works shall work with the Federal Road Safety personnel to maintain traffic on one carriageway of the bridge during the period of the rehabilitation to avoid motorists getting stuck in traffic jam.
He states that Mr. President is intervening on over 30 bridges nationwide in 2025 alone, and this rehabilitation will happen urgently.
“The Honourable Minister of Works thanks the content creator who raised the alarm on the damaged section of the bridge. He notes the content creator’s preconceptions over the modest efforts of the Renewed Hope administration to transform the road infrastructure and expand the transportation ecosystem to stimulate progressive national economic growth, but urges him and others with such mindsets to know that the Renewed Hope agenda of revolutionising road infrastructure nationwide is on course and the mission of revitalising and strengthenening the inherited deteriorating federal road architecture is making significant progress across board.
“The Honourable Minister reiterates the unwavering commitment of Mr. President in transforming Nigeria’s transport sector and positioning it for sustainable economic prosperity. His initiative to construct the Renewed Hope legacy projects in addition to the inherited ongoing road projects is a bold and broad vision to expand the nation’s road network, which is a catalyst for overall development, including healthcare, education, tourism, regional integration, industrialisation and various other economic activities that will raise the nation’s human development index.”