Taraba NASS Members Face Recall Threat Over Collapsed Bridge

Taraba electorates from the Central geopolitical  Zone have threatened to commence the recall of National Assembly members over their failure to  lobby for reconstruction of the River Namnai collapsed bridge along Jalingo-Wukari highway.

The electorates also said they will embark on a mass protest on the road to seek the federal government’s intervention to reconstruct the bridge.

The Namnai bridge linked the northern and southern parts of Nigeria through Taraba State. It collapsed due to flooding activities in August 2024, over six months ago, causing difficulty for motorists and travelers plying the road.

The collapse bridge located in Gasol local government area of Taraba State has also crippled farming and market activities within the area, compelling commercial vehicles to increase transportation fare.

LEADERSHIP’s visit to the River Namnai bridge indicated that youths within the Namnai village have constructed a temporary wooden bridge with stones where each vehicle paid at least N5000 before allowing access to cross over.

Some of the electorates affected by the collapse of the bridge, namely, Alhaji Inusa Gasol, Peter Iorlu in Namnai, Garba Tijani from Mutum-Biu and Lydia Afam, all from Gasol local government, recounted the difficult experiences they face as a result of the collapsed bridge.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP at the site of the collapsed bridge, they, summarily, accused their  representatives at the National Assembly of not doing anything over the bridge, adding that the lawmakers are not moved by their challenges.

Also citizens who called in, on a live radio programme (Majeresa Umar) on Shimo FM located in Jalingo Taraba State capital on Wednesday, said the recall process reinstated their stands to commence recall process on the National Assembly members should they fair to lobby for the reconstruction of the Namnai bridge before the return of raining season.

“We are coming together to shock the world in Taraba state over this issue of River Namnai bridge, we cannot have people at the National Assembly who only support other constituency’s motions and Bill while our plight is unattended to this long, this Namnai bridge will be an eye opener to Nigerians when we commence the recall process on the National Assembly who have faired to do their jobs in Taraba state, a caller who who gave his name as Gen. Morocco on the FM stated.

Lawmakers who face recall threat in Taraba Central over the collapsed bridge,  include Sen. Haruna Manu, representing Taraba Central; Hon Jafaru Chiloma, member representing Gasol/Bali and his counterpart, Hon David Fuol, the member representing Sadsuna/Gashaka/Kurmi at the National Assembly.