AMEACHI: DONT BLAME US FOR COLLAPSED BRIDGE.

The Rivers State Government has said it should not be blamed for the collapse of the over-head bridge which links the Port Harcourt-Aba Expressway at the Air Force Base; Junction with the East-West Road.

A section of the bridge at the state ICT Centre collapsed on Sunday after a heavy rainfall that lasted more than five hours.

The incident also caused  massive traffic gridlock that lasted for many hours.
In a joint news conference, the state Commissioners for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari; Works, Chief Victor Giadom; and Transport, Mr. George Tolofari, said the bridge was constructed under the administration of former Governor Peter Odili.

According to the officials, the contract was awarded by the Special Projects Unit of the Office of then Governor Odili to Bulletin Construction Limited and engineers from the Ministry of Works were not involved in the supervision of the project.

Semenitari reiterated the determination of the Governor Chibuike Amaechi-led government to ensure that all projects awarded by the present administration passed through due process so that the state government could be held accountable for any breakdown on the roads and other projects.

“We are committed to delivering roads that are of standard and roads that will last for many years to the people of Rivers State. Before we award any contract, we pass through due process and other rigorous processes to ensure that our projects are of standard. We are not delivering sub-standard projects,” she said.

Semenitari also apologised for the inconveniences Rivers people were facing, especially in terms of bad roads. She assured them that the pains would soon be reduced, when construction works would start after the rains.

She however said the bridge would remain closed to motorists for about three months for total rehabilitation to be carried out on it.

Tolofari disclosed that while he and other top government officials were controlling traffic at the scene, till 10 pm on Sunday, a soldier wearing camouflage almost shot him, for preventing a military man from driving against traffic.
The transport commissioner noted that the military personnel serving in the state, who felt they were above the law, had on many occasions shot at officials of the Rivers State Road Traffic Management Authority (TIMA-RIV).

The three commissioners revealed that they would soon meet with the Commanders of the Army, Navy and Air force in Port Harcourt on the need for their personnel to always be of good behaviour in public and to obey road traffic rules and regulations.

They said: “Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi does not drive against traffic. He shows good example by not taking one way and all of us are emulating him. The military men do not like to obey traffic rules and regulations. They always announce that they are military men. Rivers residents, including the military men, must always obey the law.”

Meanwhile, the State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has said the government’s excuse as escapist and not satisfactory.

The ACN in a statement issued and signed by its publicity secretary, Jerry Needam, said government is a continuum and must not accord significance to projects based on who initiated or constructed them.

Needam said if the relevant authorities had taken proactive measures, upon noticing cracks on the flyover or finding out through soil test as it is claims that the construction of the bridge was faulty, the collapse would have been averted and the people saved the embarrassment and trauma occasioned by the Sunday incident.

SOURCE:THISDAYLIVE