Unyenge bridge collapse: Eno deploys contractor for immediate remedial work

Etim Ekpimah

Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State has directed the immediate mobilisation of a contractor to the site of the collapsed bridge in Unyenge, Mbo Local Government Area.

Sources said the governor’s swift response came barely a day after a truck transporting material to the opposite side of Unyenge plunged into the water following the collapse.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Cooperatives and Rural Development, Alice Ekpenyong, commended Eno’s prompt intervention.

According to her, the governor contacted Mr Aiman Saimua, Chief Executive Officer of Amitec Construction and Development Limited, instructing him to visit the site urgently and assess possible remedial measures.

“When we came for inspection earlier, the governor mentioned plans to expand this road into a dual carriageway to support the Ibom Deep Seaport project,” Ekpenyong said.

“The road has already been captured in the 2026 budget, pending design approval. Once approved, construction will commence in earnest.

She added that the governor was displeased by the collapse, prompting his directive for an on-site evaluation.

“He called the contractor to assess the situation and outline immediate solutions. What we need now is cooperation from the community. Our youths have always been peaceful,” she said.

Ekpenyong noted that the intervention would ensure temporary access for residents and businesses until the road’s full reconstruction begins.

In his remarks, Saimua explained that the temporary bridge would be built using steel casings and laterite, though boat movement across the river would be restricted during the works.

“This is going to be a temporary bridge. This is not even going to be a bridge. What is going to be, we will put in giant steel castings for the water to pass.

“Once the bridge is built, we will now excavate that and move it. It will be just like the dam coffer we did on a few contracts before,” he said.

Concerning the water level, Saimua stated that they had measured it when they were running tests for the bridge’s foundation, adding that the depth of the water is about 6 metres. He said that they did some deep soil investigations also.

Saimua revealed that they did not know where the new bridge was going to be, adding, “That is that we don’t know where the alignment is going to be the We’re waiting for the consultants.”

A youth who spoke with our correspondent, Bassey Ediette, also praised the governor for his quick intervention.

He stated that the governor inherited the road project but was not pleased about what the contractor was doing, so he had to suspend it.

He said, “Governor Umo Eno is not somebody that can be doubted. As he has said, he will surely deliver this road project. The people are going to be happy in the long run.”