By joshua 
Kogi State Government Commends Federal Ministry Of Works For Closing Edia Koton-Karfe Bridge Along Abuja-Lokoja Federal Highway.
… calls on FMOW to commence rehabilitation of the bridge to save the alternate lane from danger.
The Kogi State Government has applauded the Federal Ministry of Works for closing the Edia Koton-Karfe Bridge along Abuja-Lokoja Federal Highway.
Gov. Usman Ahmed Ododo, speaking through the Special Adviser on Federal Project Implementation in the State, Chief Emmanuel Obasi, praised the Federal Ministry of Works, under the watch of the workaholic Hon Minister, Sen. Engr. David Umahi Nweze, CON, for taking proactive decision to close down the Edia Koton-Karfe Bridge along Abuja-Lokoja Federal Highway to traffic recently.
The Special Adviser stated this during an inspection visit to the Edia Koton-Karfe Bridge along Abuja-Lokoja Federal Highway closed down by the Federal Ministry of Works due to the dangerous spots that have developed on the bridge.
He said the dangerous spots were not only threatening the smooth vehicular movement across the Bridge but also endangering the lives of Nigerians that crisscross the always-busy Highway on daily basis.
He noted that the bridge is at the verge of imminent collapse at the centre, and closing it to traffic was the best decision at this point in time instead of waiting for the disaster of loosing human lives and properties when the bridge collapses.
He disclosed that both the Reinforced and Asphaltic Concrete overlay at some spots along the bridge have perforated, exposing the already-rusted and dismembered iron reinforcement used in constructing the bridge.
He added that one could see through into the river at those spots, thereby posing a disaster that could happen at any moment nearer than expected if the closure did not happen now.
He said no responsive Minister will wait for disaster to occur before taking proactive steps to forestall such occurrence.
The Special Adviser therefore applauded the Hon. Minister, Sen Engr. Umahi for acting on time.
He however lamented that the diversion of traffic from Abuja-Lokoja-bound lane to the alternate lane of Lokoja-Abuja Bridge has also posed its own challenges as the single lane Edia Lokoja-Abuja bound Bridge is now witnessing double flow of traffic to and fro thereby overshooting the Carrying Capacity of the Bridge.
This, according to him, may lead to shortening of the expected life span of the bridge and to it’s collapse, thus cutting off the entire southern Nigeria and parts of North Central zone especially Kogi State from having direct assess to Abuja and through Abuja to other parts of Northern Nigeria.
He therefore appealed to the Hon Minister of Works to also take the same proactive measure he took in closing down the Edia Koto-Karfe Bridge to direct the Contractor responsible for the Rehabilitation of Section IV of the Abuja-Lokoja bound lane that houses the Edia Koto-Karfe Bridges to also commence the repair of the closed bridge in the same vein.
The Special Adviser equally used the opportunity to call on the Federal Road Safety Commission and the Nigerian Police in Kogi LGA to station their men at both ends of the Lokoja-Abuja bound Edia Koto-Karfe Bridge to forestall traffic jam and collision which according to him could make the tarrying time of vehicles on the bridge longer than necessary.
This he witnessed during the inspection of the bridge on Wednesday, 13/08/25 where many heavy duty vehicles parked on the bridge due to traffic jam on both ends of the bridge.
The Edia Koto-Karfe Bridge along Abuja-Lokoja Federal Highway was constructed by Dumez Engineering Ltd in 70’s but in 2008 the contract for the overall rehabilitation of the Abuja-Lokoja and Lokoja-Abuja Roads including the Edia Koton-Karfe Bridge was awarded to Gitto Costruzioni Generali Nigeria Ltd but the Contractor, has not completed the work since then.
He also lamented that many of the Federal roads in Kogi State are gradually becoming unmotorable and need urgent attention.
He commended Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for directing immediate rehabilitation of federal roads across the country, and noted that Itobe-Ajaokuta-Okene Federal Road among others is in very deplorable condition.
He eulogized the amiable and workaholic Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, FCA, for the aggressive maintenance of existing State and rural roads and construction of new ones across the State without which there would have been no movement of vehicles across the state and praised him also for providing adequate security in the state.
Recalled that the Edia bridge was closed down recently but without any rehabilitation ongoing.
The Special Adviser called on the FMOW to do something on the rehabilitation as soon as possible to save traffic and protect the alternate bridge where vehicles have been diverted to.