Plateau Government Warns of Imminent Bridge Collapses

The Plateau State government, led by Hon. Joshua Ubandoma Laven, has issued a warning regarding the imminent collapse of several federal bridges, including Longvel Bridge along the Shendam-Yelwa-Ibi road and Kufai Yelwa Bridge on the Yelwa-Garkawa road.

During an inspection tour, it was revealed that Longvel Bridge, constructed several decades ago, has suffered extensive structural damage due to repeated flooding, particularly recalling severe floods in 2012 that undermined the bridge's foundation. Although the federal government constructed a relief culvert to address the damage, subsequent floods in 2014 and 2018 further weakened the structure, leading to the failure of the retaining wall and exposing bridge piles.

The situation has become critical, with other bridges like Kufai Yelwa Bridge and Bailei Bridge already collapsed. The state government has called for the federal government to deploy an emergency response team to provide urgent funding for rehabilitation, especially as the rainy season approaches.