Flood: Motorists, residents lament as torrential rain washes away bridges linking Kebbi, Benin Republic

Commercial vehicles, communities across border’s Communities in Kebbi State have been thrown into unnecessary hardship as flood cut off bridges linking Benin Republic and Birnin Kebbi,the state capital as a result of heavy rain.

Three Company’s long trucks, were seen trapped inside collapsed bridge at Fana village,a border community with Benin Republic during inspection of the State Government Committee set up to unravel level of damages by the flood across the State.

The intra border’s Drivers were left stranded for one week, while motorists plying Kangiwa to Birnin Kebbi were left stranded  for two days due to collapsed bridge at Zogirma-Tili   Federal Government road.

While speaking with newsmen,a commercial driver,Danjuma Kangiwa disclosed that the heavy rain of Sunday night to Monday morning destroyed the Makera -Kangiwa bridge and prevented many travelers to link up with the state capital.

Also, Mustapha Aliyu, another driver plying Kangiwa -Birnin Kebbi road disclosed that he and his passengers have been on the bank of the bridge for two days to allow the flood to reduce before they cross over stressed that, if not,he could lost his Carter truck to the flood.

At the Fena village,a border town with Benin Republic,three Company’s drivers from Benin Republic,Cotevoire, Togo,Serika Patiki, Womeno Kwani and Yahyah Muniru whose trucks were trapped inside collapsed bridge appealed to the Governments to help them to pull out their trucks from the river.

While speaking with newsmen on behalf of the flood Committee during their inspection of damaged infrastructures in Kebbi State, the State Commissioner for Information and Cultures,Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed Birnin Kebbi, explained that the State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris haven realized the economic  and social implications of the havoc wrecked by the flood decided to set up the committee to find out the level of the damages.

According to him, “the implications are there. What we are facing currently in Kebbi state is that we are having various bridges which are critically to the State that have been entirely washed away.

“We have seen the situation across the state where bridges have been completely cut off. Communities relating with one and another,have been separated by the flood. There is risk of our farmers not able to transport their harvest to homes and markets.

“We also fear the implications of the famine because Kebbi State is critical to the food security of this country. Especially in the area of rice production and other crops.

“And when you don’t have accessible roads,bridges, washed away,the implications are very serious”, he said.

He promised that the state government would come to the assistance of the people of the areas affected by the flood to cushion the adverse effects on their livelihood.

In his remark,the Vice- Chairman of Dandi- Local Government Area of the state, Alhaji Bala Isa commended the State Governor, Dr Nasir Idris for promptly sending bags of rice and the sum of N50m to the victims of the flood in their council.

The District Head,Alhaji Muhammad Sani Abubakar Fana who commended the state government for sending the Deputy Governor, Senator Umar Abubakar to the community to sympathize with them,said,  three delegates have sent to access their situation after the flooding, stressed that ,the community has also created alternative road for light vehicles to pass.

The committee also visited  Bunza ,Zuru and Maiyama Local Government Areas to assess the level of damages of flood to federal government roads across the Councils.

Other members of the Committee on the tour including Commissioner of Special Duties, Alhaji Zaiyanu Aliero, Special Adviser on Due Process , Alhaji Sirajo Garba Bagudo ,Special Adviser on Power/Politics, Alhaji Kabiru Sani (Giant ), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Arch Saad Sakaba,  and Director, Civil Engineering Department, Ministry of Works, Alhaji Sahabi Muhammad Tilli.

Source: The Sun