Cracks In Olaiya Bridge: Group Urges Osun Govt To Conduct Integrity Test

•Warns Governor Not To Fall For Political Manipulation

A Civil Society Organisation, Centre for Social Justice and Public Protection (CSJPP), has urged the Osun State Government to conduct a proper integrity test on Olaiya bridge.

This was as the group said the state government should not succumb to any political manipulation, adding that the issue has to do with people’s safety.

Osun Defender reports that the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on October 23, directed the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to ban heavy-duty trucks from plying the Olaiya bridge, citing safety reasons.

The bridge was constructed during the administration of the immediate past governor of the state, Mr Gboyega Oyetola.

Adeleke, in a statement by his spokesperson, Rasheed Olawale, said the need arises from the technical reports on the state of the bridge.

The governor added that the decision became necessary to protect the bridge from possible collapse and avoid untoward happenings with continuous passage by heavy trucks.

“Describing the decision as a preemptive step, Governor Adeleke said the Ministry should erect barricades across the bridge to allow only cars and buses to ply through the road.

“As a step towards implementing the directive, the Governor also instructed the Ministry to issue a travel advisory with radio jingles to sensitize members of the public and the transport ecosystem,” the statement said.

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The statement further noted that the Governor assured the public that the decision was taken to protect the public and state assets while a long-lasting review of the technical status of the bridge is being conducted by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.

Osun Defender reports that the decision to ban heavy-duty trucks by the state government attracted criticism from the opposition All Progressives Congress party, who described the move as politically motivated.

The state chairman of the APC, Alhaji Tajudeen Lawal, said the move was aimed at discrediting the legacy of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, now the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy.

However, a check on the bridge by Osun Defender showed multiple cracks on both sides of the bridge.

 

Speaking on the development in a statement signed by its coordinator, Akin Akanji, a copy obtained by Osun Defender, CSJPP, urged stakeholders to support the state government in carrying out due diligence on the bridge.

The statement read, “As a group that deals with public protection, it is our duty to make sure the state government rises to its responsibilities among which includes the protection of lives and property.

“We’ve observed the claims and counterclaims by the two major political parties and some stakeholders concerning the Olaiya bridge; we want everyone to come together to know the true state of this bridge.

“We want to urge the state government not to fall for political manipulation concerning this issue as this is something that affects the well-being of those the governor is governing over.

 

“Also, we want to appeal to the opposition and other stakeholders to allow the bridge to be subjected to an integrity test in order to to the true position of the bridge.

“We must also not fail to tell the state government not to play cheap politics concerning the bridge. Experts should be invited to look into it, and necessarily adjustments should be made as recommended.”