By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
True to his promise when he led a couple of Enugu State federal lawmakers to the collapsed new Artisan Enugu section of the Enugu, Port Harcourt Expressway last week, Honourable Nnolim Nnaji has mobilised other ten legislators from the Southeast to press for the immediate reconstruction of the bridge.
Honourable Nnaji who represents Nkanu East/West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives had appealed to the people of the state, especially road users, for patience, assuring them that the coalition of lawmakers from the Southeast would do everything within their powers to ensure that the bridge was fixed in record time.
In a motion titled, “Urgent Need to Reconstruct The Collapsed New Artisan Bridge (Enugu Section) of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Federal Expressway and the Aba – PH section of the road, Right Honourable Nnaji in the lead debate in support of the motion observed that the bridge was constructed over the road for the purpose of traffic management.
The House of Representatives in adopting the motion during Plenary on Tuesday urged the Federal Government through the Ministry of Works to immediately intervene in the construction of the bridge and the Aba – PH section of the same express road.
The House also urged the Federal Government to ensure that adequate funds were provided for the reconstruction of the bridge and the road.
The House Committee on Works was equally mandated to monitor and liaise with the Federal Ministry of Works to ensure that the resolution to repair the collapsed bridge and the road was carried out.
The House further directed the Committee on works and legislative compliance to ensure compliance and report back to the general house within three weeks for further legislative action.
Honourable Nnaji who is the current House of Representatives Standing Committee on Ports and Harbour ealier in his supporting debate further noted that the collapse of the bridge could have been as a result of the heavy duty vehicles operating daily on the road without periodic maintenance of the bridge adding that the incidence and prevalence of the occurrences in the country over the years have benn alarming.
He also stressed that, “the bridge is of great economic value to Nigeria because it connects several other Southeast States of Imo, Ebonyi and Abia as well as Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Cross River and Akwa Ibom in the South south.
Other co-sponsors of the motion are Hon. Chimaobi Atu, Hon. Stainless Nwodo, Hon. Mark Obetta, Hon. Chijoke Okereke, Hon. Barrister Barrister Sunday Omeha, Hon, Professor Paul Nnamchi, Hon. Iduma Igariwey, Hon. Obi Aguocha Hon. Peter Aniekwe,and Hon. Ugonna Ozirigbo.
