By joshua 🚨 EMERGENCY ALERT ON MURTALA MOHAMMED BRIDGE, LOKOJA: IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION NEEDED TO SAFEGUARD LIVES, PROTECT VITAL NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND PREVENT A SERIOUS DISRUPTION TO THE MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES AND PEOPLE TO AND FROM ABUJA.
The Special Adviser to the Kogi State Governor on Federal Projects Implementation, Chief Emmanuel Obasi, has expressed serious concern over the condition of the Murtala Mohammed (MM) Bridge at Jamata, Lokoja, following his personal inspection of the bridge on 23 October 2026.
Constructed by Dumez Construction Company in the 1970s, more than five decades ago, the Murtala Mohammed Bridge is a major federal infrastructure asset along the Lokoja-Abuja highway and its return corridor. Its strategic importance to the movement of passengers, goods and vehicles makes its continued safety and functionality essential to transportation and economic activities across the country.
On 10 March 2020, the Federal Government awarded a rehabilitation contract to Hallekem Limited for approximately ₦6.602 billion, with a scheduled completion period of 24 months. The planned works included underwater foundation repairs, substructure repairs, replacement of damaged expansion joints and improvements to the bridge carriageway. However, the extent to which all the planned works were comprehensively completed remains unclear, making a fresh technical assessment necessary.
During his recent inspection, Chief Obasi observed several defects, including exposed, severed and dangling reinforcement bars; damaged and dismembered expansion joints; holes and concrete deterioration; potholes on the bridge deck; uncovered access openings into the bridge’s hollow interior due to missing or vandalised covers; and damaged safety barriers, including guardrails and parapets.
Beyond these visible defects, he expressed concern about the condition of the structural components connecting the bridge’s superstructure to its supporting piers and abutments, as well as its foundations and the underlying soil or rock. These components require professional examination to establish their condition and identify any underlying problems.
Of particular concern was the serious shaking of a section of the Lokoja-Abuja-bound bridge as heavy-duty vehicles passed. While this observation does not, in itself, establish structural failure, it warrants urgent engineering assessment to determine the cause and the appropriate safety measures.
Chief Obasi commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his unrelenting engagement and collaboration with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and the Federal Minister of Works, Engr. Sen. David Umahi, in advancing federal infrastructure projects and improving transportation infrastructure in Kogi State.
He particularly expressed appreciation to Mr President and the Federal Ministry of Works for the recent rehabilitation and reopening of the two Edia bridges at Koton Karfe. He noted that the intervention has improved road users’ safety, comfort and confidence, reduced travel time and helped ease the transportation difficulties previously experienced in the area in the spirit of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He called for this same spirit of Renewed Hope and the cordial relationship and corporation between the Federal Government and the Kogi State Government to be extended to the Murtala Mohammed Bridge, where the defects observed make urgent intervention a necessity. Given the bridge’s strategic importance to the Lokoja-Abuja corridor, any serious deterioration or prolonged disruption could have far-reaching consequences for public safety, commerce and the movement of people and goods to and from Abuja.
Chief Obasi also called on the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant security agencies to ensure that articulated and heavy-duty vehicles do not park or tarry longer than necessary on the bridge. He stressed the need for effective traffic control and enforcement to minimise avoidable emergencies while hoping for possible intervention.
In his words:
“We sincerely appreciate Mr President, the Minister of Works and Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for their collaborative efforts towards improving critical infrastructure, particularly the recent intervention on the two Edia bridges at Koton Karfe. In view of the defects observed at the Murtala Mohammed Bridge, urgent technical assessment and appropriate remedial action are now necessary to safeguard lives, protect this vital infrastructure and prevent a potentially serious disruption to the movement of vehicles and people to and from Abuja.”
Chief Obasi emphasised that early intervention is essential to address the observed defects before they develop into more serious problems. He called for a prompt and comprehensive engineering assessment, followed by the necessary repairs and appropriate interim safety measures, including traffic restrictions if recommended by qualified bridge engineers.
Public safety should not be left to chance. The time for urgent technical assessment and decisive action is now.
SA-FPI Media Team