The Senate on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the collapse of a critical bridge and failed sections of the Okija Spur Road in Anambra State, warning that prolonged inaction could further endanger lives and worsen economic hardship in the affected communities.
Specifically, the upper chamber urged the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency to undertake an immediate engineering inspection of the collapsed old bridge and all failed sections of the Okija Spur Road, while initiating emergency measures to restore at least, temporary and safe connectivity.
The Senate also mandated its Committee on Works to oversee all intervention activities concerning the Okija Spur Road, the collapsed old bridge, and the completion works on the new bridge.
These resolutions followed the consideration 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.
Presenting the motion, Senator Nwachukwu said the Okija Spur–Okija through Afor Ukpor to Ebenator and Ezinifite Road remains one of the most critical intra-regional corridors in Anambra South Senatorial District, serving as a major link for commerce, agriculture, education, health care access and other socio-economic activities across several communities.
He told the Senate that the old bridge along the route collapsed on March 5, 2025, “completely shutting down movement, endangering lives and severely disrupting economic and social connectivity across the affected communities.”
According to him, “the new bridge over the Ulasi Stream, which has been under construction for over a decade, is only about 70% completed, with pillars erected and deck components fabricated, but not installed, leaving the structure non-operational and the corridor effectively impassable.”
Senator Nwachukwu further expressed concern that the collapse of the old bridge, coupled with the incomplete status of the new bridge and the deteriorated condition of several portions of the Okija Spur Road—particularly between Ukpor and Ebenato—has heightened safety risks, increased transportation costs and compounded hardship for residents and road users.
He observed that the urgent completion of the new bridge and immediate intervention on the collapsed old bridge now represent the most critical steps required to restore movement, pending the full rehabilitation of the remaining failed portions of the road.
The lawmaker emphasised that swift federal intervention is necessary to stabilise the corridor, restore access, support local livelihoods and prevent further deterioration of the infrastructure.
In his remarks, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, directed the Committee on Works to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA to ensure that the project is completed promptly, noting the need to improve safety along the corridor amid concerns over the activities of kidnappers and bandits.
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