The Federal Government, through the North East Development Commission (NEDC), and the Minister of State for Regional Development, Uba Maigari, had jointly announced with Governor Agbu Kefas that full rehabilitation would begin within weeks. However, no visible progress has been made, and the bridge remains abandoned.
As a result, local residents and commuters have been forced to use dangerous bush paths or cross the river by boat, a decision that turned deadly when a vessel carrying passengers and vehicles capsized
According to Jidda Mayoreniyo, Chairman of the Taraba Inland Water Transporters, at least three people drowned, while several others are still missing. Four vehicles have been recovered from the riverbed, but many belongings remain submerged.
The incident has sparked fury and grief among residents, who blame both state and federal authorities for failing to act despite repeated warnings and protests from civil society groups and local leaders.
A prominent traditional leader, Gimbiyar Lau, Hajiya Mamma Fati Ibrahim Hassan Lau, who lost three relatives in the mishap, called for the declaration of the bridge’s reconstruction as a national emergency.
“This is not just a local issue. The Namnai Bridge is vital to Nigeria’s economic arteries, it facilitates the movement of goods, livestock, and agricultural produce between the North and South,” she said.
Residents also cited the swift action taken by former Governor Jolly Nyame in 2005 when the Nukkai Bridge in Jalingo collapsed. They say the current administration’s lack of urgency and failure to leverage National Assembly support has made matters worse.
Trade has collapsed in the area, with farmers unable to access markets, goods rotting in the fields, and prices surging due to the isolation caused by the broken transit route.
As pressure mounts, citizens are urging Governor Kefas to intensify his advocacy and mobilize federal intervention to avert further tragedy.
