The majority leader of Oyo state House of Assembly, Hon. Sanjo Adddoyin has called for the urgent reconstruction of collapsed bridges in Ogbomoso South and North constituencies.
The bridges have been seriously damaged by the torrential downpours, according to Adedoyin, who made this appeal during the Tuesday plenary session while presenting a motion on the urgent need for the executive arm of government to reconstruct the collapsed bridges in the Ogbomoso South and North State Constituencies.
The lawmaker noted that good road network and construction of bridges facilitates economic growth, transportatin of goods and services and also connectivity, stressing that it also link people, cities, town and villages, as well as promotes social and cultural exchanges, boost trade and increase mobility.
According to Adedoyin, as a result of heavy down pour experiences in the last few weeks, other bridges within Ogbomoso South Lncal Government Areas too, had collapsed or near state of total collapse.
He mentioned the five main bridges in Ogbomoso South that were impacted by the intense rain, among them Osuruu Stream, which needs immediate dredging and repairs to prevent thousands of people from leaving the surrounding area.
The others were the Asabi Oyelami Street, Royal College/Merit Hotel Areas; Ayetoro Community Blind Centre to Ashaku School; Beulah Baptist Centre Bridge; Mikky Road-Ogbomoso Iseyin Road.
Noting that beside the collapsed bridges, he added, several properties were destroyed because of the downpour and many families were rendered homeless in which properties running to millions of naira were destroyed by the flood and many inhabitant of the affected areas especially Oke-Osun and Beulah Baptist Centre areas are wallowing in unimaginable difficulties.
Adedoyin stated that the collapsed bridges has resulted to isolation and separation of some Communities, disruption of social services, emotional trauma and stress for residents and people of Ogbomoso North and South Local Government Areas.
While appealing to Oyo State Government to act swiftly to save the lives of the people living in the affected areas, the lawmaker noted that urgent and prompt action is needed to mitigate the impacts and ensure communities’ resilience and recovery of economic activities as well as improve accessibility in terms of transportation of goods and services, mobility of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.
Co-sponsoring the motion, Hon. Bisi Oluranti Michael, a lawmaker representing Ogbomoso North Constituency, urged the Executive Arm of Government to take swiit action in reconstructing the Katangua Akowojo Bridge which has been severely damaged due to torrential downpours.
She noted that the Bridge has completely collapsed, leaving residence of the Communities around the bridge stranded and unable to access essential services such as healthcare, education and markets for agricultural prodice.
However, the House of Assembly, led by Speaker Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, urged the Executive Arm of Government to take the required steps to restore and rebuild these collapsed bridges in the Ogbomoso North and South Local Government Areas through the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.
