By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu, Jalingo
TARABA: Hundreds of travellers and motorists were left stranded on Wednesday after heavy rainfall washed away an alternative bridge at the site of the collapsed Namne Bridge along the Jalingo-Wukari road in Taraba State.
The makeshift bridge, constructed by locals through self-help, had served as a temporary passage since the Namne Bridge collapsed seven months ago. However, the torrential downpour in the early hours of Wednesday rendered the road impassable, leaving road users in distress.
Governor Agbu Kefas had awarded a contract for the reconstruction of the collapsed bridge last month, but contractors had yet to mobilize to the site before the heavy rains struck, exacerbating the plight of commuters and transporters who rely on the route.
Frustrated motorists were forced to take a longer and more difficult detour through Garba-Chede town in Bali Local Government Area to continue their journeys. Many of them expressed disappointment over the delay in rebuilding the critical infrastructure.
A truck driver, Bello Adamu, lamented the hardship faced by travellers. “This road is a major route, and it is unfortunate that the authorities, especially the federal government, failed to reconstruct the bridge before the rainy season. Now, we are back to square one,” he said.
He called on Governor Kefas to expedite the deployment of contractors to the site, stressing that the prolonged delay would worsen economic activities and travel conditions in the state.
The collapse of the alternative bridge has reignited concerns about the state of infrastructure in Taraba, with residents and commuters urging both state and federal governments to prioritize road and bridge reconstruction projects to prevent further disruptions.