October 19, (THEWILL) — Akwa Ibom State Government has ordered immediate remedial work on the collapsed Unyenge bridge in Mbo Local Government Area, mobilising construction firm, Amitec Construction and Development Limited, to the site less than 24 hours after the incident.
The collapse occurred when a truck conveying construction materials plunged into the river, cutting off access for residents and businesses in the riverine community.
The state government has directed the contractor to restore temporary passage while long-term reconstruction plans advance.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Cooperatives and Rural Development, Alice Ekpenyong, said Governor Umo Eno contacted Amitec’s Chief Executive Officer, Aiman Saimua, instructing him to assess the damage and commence emergency intervention.
She disclosed that the road, which is strategic to the planned Ibom Deep Seaport, is already included in the 2026 budget for expansion into a dual carriageway, pending design approval.
According to her, the temporary solution aims to restore access and reduce hardship until full construction begins. She appealed for cooperation from residents during the process.
Saimua said the temporary crossing would be built using steel casings and laterite, noting that boat movement across the waterway would be restricted during the works.
He added that soil tests and water depth measurements; estimated at six metres, had earlier been conducted, explaining that consultants would determine the final alignment for the permanent bridge before full-scale construction is undertaken.
Residents have welcomed the intervention. A youth representative, Bassey Ediette, said the previous contractor on the road project was suspended over poor performance and expressed optimism that the state government will now deliver the project as promised.
He noted that the restoration of access is vital to economic activity in the area and urged the state government to sustain the pace of work.
