Distress call: NDDC inspects 600-metres bridge project in Bayelsa
by The Eagle Online · The Eagle OnlineThe Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on Monday, embarked on inspection of ongoing 600-metre Otuogori Bridge in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa.
The commission embarked on the visit to verify claims that some beams constructed for the bridge were falling apart.
The NDDC State Director, Godknows Alamieyeseigha, who led journalists on the inspection, said the commission had commenced on-the-spot assessment to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Alamieyeseigha dismissed concerns that the incident was caused by structural failure, describing it as an accident that occurred during construction.
He expressed confidence in the competence of the contractor, Jillian Group of Companies, to address the issues identified by the commission and deliver the project to the people of Otuogori.
The state director, said preliminary investigations were ongoing and that the commission would make its findings public at the conclusion of the exercise.
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Also speaking, the Managing Director, Jillian Group of Companies, Mr Christian Omiezor, explained that the bridge was still at the preparatory stage, with the contractor yet to complete construction of the structure.
According to him, the incident occurred during launching of the bridge beams, which were being positioned on their bearings as part of the construction process.
Omiezor explained that the beams were not yet permanently secured and could slide while resting on the bearings, adding that this was what happened during the incident.
He said the occurrence is a minor accident and attributed the absence of casualties to the safety measures put in place at the construction site.
“We are constructing a 600-metre bridge but as you can see, we have not constructed a bridge yet. What you are seeing is just preparations for the bridge.
“What was going on was the launching of the beams, and in the process, there was a slight accident because the beam was resting on a bearing and had not been secured, it could slide.
“That was what happened. The good thing is that, with the safety measures put in place, no life was lost,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the project which was awarded by the NDDC is expected to be completed in April 2027.
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