Kogi State Government has applauded the Federal Ministry of Works, under the leadership of Hon. Minister, Sen. Engr. David Umahi Nweze, for taking the proactive decision to close the Edia Koto-Karfe Bridge along the Abuja–Lokoja Federal Highway to traffic recently.
In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the Governor of Kogi State on Federal Project Implementation, Chief Emmanuel Obasi, after an on-the-spot inspection of the Edia Koto-Karfe Bridge along the Abuja–Lokoja Highway, he said the closure by the Federal Ministry of Works was necessary due to the dangerous spots that had developed on the bridge.
He confirmed that the spots threatened smooth vehicular movement across the bridge and endangered the lives of Nigerians who crisscross the always-busy highway on a daily basis.
Chief Obasi noted that the bridge is on the verge of imminent collapse at the centre, and closing it to traffic was the best decision at this point in time instead of waiting for the disaster of losing human lives and property when the bridge eventually collapses.
He disclosed that both the Reinforced and Asphaltic Concrete overlay at some spots along the bridge have perforated, exposing the already-rusted and disemembered iron reinforcement used in constructing the bridge and one could see through into the river at those spots.
According to him, “The bridge is therefore a disaster that could happen at any moment nearer than expected if the closure did not happen now. No responsive Minister will wait for disaster to occur before taking proactive step to forestall such occurrence. That’s why we applaud the Hon Minister, Sen Engr Umahi for acting on time.”
Chief Obasi, however lamented that the diversion of traffic from Abuja-Lokoja-bound lane to the alternate lane of Lokoja-Abuja Bridge has also posed its own challenges as the single lane Edia Lokoja-Abuja bound Bridge is now witnessing double flow of traffic to and fro thereby overshooting the Carrying Capacity of the Bridge.
This, according to him, may shorten the expected lifespan of the bridge and lead to its collapse, which could cut off the entire southern region of Nigeria and parts of the North Central zone, especially Kogi State, from having direct access to Abuja and, through Abuja, to other northern parts of the country.
He therefore appealed to the Hon Minister of Works to also take the same proactive measure he took in closing down the Edia Koto-Karfe Bridge to direct the Contractor responsible for the Rehabilitation of Section IV of the Abuja-Lokoja bound lane that houses the Edia Koto-Karfe Bridge to also commence the repair of the closed bridge in the same vein.
The Special Adviser equally used the opportunity to call on the Federal Road Safety Commission and the Nigerian Police in Kogi LGA to station their men at both ends of the Lokoja-Abuja bound Edia Koto-Karfe Bridge to forestall traffic jams and collisions which could make the tarrying time of vehicles on the bridge longer than necessary. This he witnessed during the inspection of the bridge on Wednesday, 12/08/25 where many heavy duty vehicles parked on the bridge due to traffic jam on both ends of the bridge.
The Edia Koto-Karfe Bridge along Abuja-Lokoja Federal Highway was constructed by Dumez Engineering Ltd in 70’s but in 2008 the contract for the overall rehabilitation of the Abuja-Lokoja and Lokoja-Abuja Roads including the Edia Koto-Karfe Bridge was awarded to Gitto Costruzioni Generali Nigeria Ltd but the Contractor has not completed work since then.
He also lamented that many federal roads in Kogi State are gradually becoming unmotorable and require urgent attention. He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for directing the immediate rehabilitation of federal roads across the country and noted that the Itobe–Ajaokuta and Ajaokuta–Okene Federal Roads, among others are in a very deplorable conditions.
He eulogized the Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, for the aggressive maintenance of state roads and the construction of new roads across the state, without which there would have been no vehicular movement in many parts of the State. He also praised the Governor for providing adequate security in the state.
