Lokoja: The Federal Government has announced that the repair works on the damaged Koton-Karfe bridge, located on the critical Lokoja-Abuja road, are nearing completion. This assurance comes as a relief to many commuters and motorists who have been affected by the disruption.

According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Federal Works Commissioner in Kogi, Mr. Gana Patiko, addressed concerns in an interview, emphasizing that there is no cause for alarm despite the alarming portrayal in a viral social media video. Patiko confirmed that a dedicated team of engineers from the works ministry is diligently working on the damaged portions of the bridge.

The damages to the Koton-Karfe bridge were reportedly caused by a fuel tanker accident. “The driver of the tanker was reckless, he lost control and fell under the bridge and the vehicle caught fire,” Patiko explained. The fire subsequently damaged part of the bridge, prompting swift action from the ministry. “We quickly assembled a team of engineers and sent them there for the repairs,” he added. The commissioner urged motorists and commuters to be patient as the repairs near completion and apologized for the inconvenience caused by the necessary lane closure and traffic diversion.

In addition to the bridge repairs, Patiko highlighted other ongoing road construction projects in Kogi State. These include the Chintako-Ayingba road, the Loko-Okene-Benin road, and the Abaji-Koton-Karfe road, where two contractors are actively engaged. “We have Crete Construction Company constructing Continuous Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) along Koton-Karfe-Abaji road, while Geld Construction Company is laying Flexible Pavement along Abaji-Koton-Karfe road,” Patiko stated. He further explained the strategic use of different pavement types on the Abuja-Lokoja road to accommodate varying vehicle weights.