Flood: NEDC begins reconstruction of Maiduguri vital bridges

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has commenced the reconstruction and upgrade of two vital bridges destroyed by flood in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital. The Managing Director/CEO of the Commission, Mohammed Goni Alkali, was on an inspection visit to the project’s sites on Saturday, and said both projects would be completed within 18 months. […]

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has commenced the reconstruction and upgrade of two vital bridges destroyed by flood in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The Managing Director/CEO of the Commission, Mohammed Goni Alkali, was on an inspection visit to the project’s sites on Saturday, and said both projects would be completed within 18 months.

He noted that the collapse of the two bridges in Moromoro/Gambarou market and Fori/Galtimari ward has caused significant difficulties for residents and traders in accessing key areas within the state capital.

“Before now, what we have in Moromoro was a culvert, not a bridge. We have to remove it and build a new bridge. That’s why the contractor needs a lot of time and technical expertise to achieve that.

“Also, Moro-moro is a very narrow area with a lot of business activities going on, so deploying some of the heavy-duty equipment has been a challenge, but I’m impressed with what they are doing so far,” he said.

The Managing Director explained that the project has a timeline of 18 months.

Goni also noted that the various roads under construction in the state have reached 95 per cent completion, assuring that the projects would ease transportation challenges and enhance socio-economic activities in the affected areas.

He reiterated the resolve of the commission to continue delivering infrastructure and development initiatives aimed at stimulating economic growth and improving living conditions across the North-East region.

Speaking to newsmen, Engr Hauwa Kori Shettima, a consultant of the projects, said the Moromoro-Gambarou market culvert was expanded from 16 cells culvert to a 120-meter bridge, while the Fori bridge at Galtimari ward was upgraded to 180 meters bridge.