The Impact of Bridge and Road Destruction on Communities
Bridges and roads are essential infrastructure that facilitate the movement of people and goods across different regions. However, in recent months, communities across various parts of the country have faced severe challenges due to floods that have washed away bridges and disrupted vital road networks. This report explores the consequences of these infrastructural failures on the lives of local residents.
Kufai Bridge in Plateau State
In Plateau State, the Kufai bridge, located near Yelwa community in Shendam Local Government Area, was built over three decades ago and has served as a crucial link for motorists and pedestrians in the southern part of the state. A significant volume of water passes under the bridge, especially during the rainy season, which poses risks to its structural integrity. Commuters within and outside the state frequently use the bridge for social and economic purposes.
Unfortunately, the collapse of the bridge has made it difficult for road users to cross the river, particularly during the rainy season when the water level is high. Residents often wait for the water level to subside before attempting to cross, which poses significant safety risks. Despite a partial repair in 2023, the bridge collapsed again in August due to heavy rainfall, causing further difficulties for road users.
Namnai Bridge in Taraba
One year after the collapse of the Namnai bridge, along Jalingo-Wukari, a Trunk A road in Taraba, the state and federal government have not taken any action to address the suffering of thousands of travelers plying the road. Promises by the federal government, Governor Agbu Kefas, and the North-East Development Commission to reconstruct the bridge have not been fulfilled.
The bridge, which collapsed after a heavy rainfall in August 2024, links states in the North-East to South-East, South-West, as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Benue, Plateau, and Nasarawa states. The disruption has led to increased transportation costs and delays. Commercial vehicle drivers and commuters now face additional challenges, with some reporting incidents of ferry capsizing and vehicle losses.
Zango-Gwallaga Bridge in Bauchi
Commercial activities have been paralysed at the Zango-Gwallaga Mayaki community following the collapse of the bridge during a heavy downpour last month. While no lives were lost, the aftermath has created significant difficulties for the residents. Some affected residents have sold their houses to relocate to another place within the metropolis.
Residents reported that gully erosion is exacerbating the situation, making it challenging to move heavy items or large commodities from or out of the community. The new road under construction is a long-distance for the people of the area, adding to their struggles.
Gwalli Bridge in Sokoto
In what has become a recurring tragedy across northern Nigeria, the lives of ordinary citizens are being lost almost daily due to years of neglect, failed infrastructure, and government inaction. On Saturday, a locally made bridge in Gwalli, Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, collapsed under the weight of an overloaded commercial bus, killing 19 people. Survivors described the wooden bridge as a “known death trap,” particularly during the rainy season.
Residents of Sabon Birni and neighbouring Shinkafi in Zamfara State now face a different kind of crisis – a combination of floods and fear, forcing them to pay armed escorts to travel safely to the state capital. The government has distributed motorised boats and lifejackets to boost safety in riverine communities.
Fana Bridge in Kebbi
Kebbi State recorded devastating havoc caused by floods in the past few weeks of heavy rainfall. Some of the bridges linking communities in the state were washed away, including the Fana bridge in Dandi Local Government Area. The collapse of the bridge has caused untold hardship for the communities, cutting off passage between different areas.
A paddy rice trader in Fana, Sanusi Fana, described the difficulty of being cut off from the rest of the state. Many traders and farmers could not carry out their daily activities due to the bridge’s collapse. The governor has allocated land to displaced families to help them rebuild their homes.
Babban Rami Bridge in Niger
While the state continues to grapple with poor road networks, another setback occurred on September 3, 2025, when the Babban Rami bridge in Mashegu Local Government Area collapsed following heavy rainfall. The bridge was completely destroyed, cutting off passage between Kontagora and Makera. This road serves as a major link between the northern and southern parts of Nigeria.
Residents and heavy-duty vehicle drivers decried the slow pace of construction on key roads, calling on the federal government to complete the projects to ease their suffering. Several other roads are also in deplorable conditions, including portions of the Suleja-Minna road, the Birnin Gwari-Bokani-Jebba road, as well as the Minna-Zungeru-Regina-Kontagora road.
