Commuters Groan As Bridge Collapses, Blame FERMA For Shoddy Job

By Ayodele Oni

As the people of Ekiti state continue to savour the joy of witnessing landing of first aircraft in the newly constructed cargo airport, a major bridge linking ondo and Ekiti States at the border Town of Irun Akoko in Akoko North West local government area of ondo state has collapsed.

The development has thrown commuters plying the road into serious difficulties in accessing their destinations.

Irun akoko, an agrarian community is the biggest town in Akoko north west local government area of ondo that connects some Ekiti  communities such as Egbe, imesi and Isinbode.

The collapsed road has been a busy axis for over four years as commuters Lagos, Oyo,Osun and Ekiti States ply it enroute Abuja and back from Abuja.

The federal roads maintenance agency (FERMA), recently carried out repairs on the road, but ignored entreaties by residents on the urgent need to attend to the Bridge.

As at the time of the report, the road has become impassable as a truck loaded with metal scraps fell at the collapsed Bridge on the road.

Residents who lamented the negative impacts of the development and poor handling of repairs by FERMA, appealed for urgent government intervention .

Some of the commuters explained that they have to make a detour and embark on longer routes before connecting commercial centers like Ikare Akoko, Owo, Benin, Okenne, Lokoja and Abuja.