The Senate has mandated its Committee on Works to invite the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, over the status of Bailey bridges nationwide.
Bailey bridges, made from pre-fabricated metal truss, developed and used during the Second World War, were built in Nigeria during pre-independence and post-Civil War era.
They were used to provide temporary crossing for foot and vehicular traffic.
Sponsor of the motion, Senator Gilbert Nnaji pointed out that the collapse of the bailey bridges nationwide had caused “untold hardship to commuters, motorists and other road users.”
He cited the example of a collapse bridge across Ebonyi River along Ikem-Neke-Ugwuogo Road at Ikem-Uno in Izi-Uzo local government area of Enugu State.
Following Senator Nnaji’s motion, the Senate, therefore, mandated its Committee on Works to invite Mr. Fashola to brief the Committee on a viable plan of action for the reconstruction of all Bailey bridges nationwide.
The Committee has four weeks to report back to the Senate.