Movement has been disrupted in parts of Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo State following the collapse of the Iwagba River Bridge.
The bridge, which serves as an important link between Iwagba and neighbouring communities, gave way in the early hours of Tuesday, September 8, after a heavy downpour.
Communities affected by the collapse include Iwagba, Apake, Igbo Agboin, Mary Land and Pakistan. Access to Ori Oke Community High School and other nearby areas has also been affected.
Residents said the bridge had been in a deteriorating condition for some time, despite efforts by members of the community to preserve and maintain it.
A community leader, Adewumi Adegbite, said residents had repeatedly brought the condition of the bridge to the attention of the local government.
According to Adegbite, the former Chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government, Kabiru Ayoade, carried out rehabilitation work on the bridge about four or five years ago. The intervention helped keep the route operational for several years before the structure gradually weakened.
The recent rainfall, however, reportedly worsened the condition of the already weakened bridge, eventually leading to its collapse.
Adegbite appealed to the current chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government, George Ogunlade, to treat the situation as an emergency and facilitate the reconstruction of the bridge.
He stressed that the bridge is not only important to residents of Iwagba but also serves students, farmers, traders and other residents who rely on the route for their daily activities.
While commending the ongoing rehabilitation of some township roads in Ogbomoso North and South under the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde, Adegbite called for stronger financial support for local governments.
He argued that adequately funded local councils would be better positioned to respond promptly to infrastructure problems affecting communities at the grassroots.
The community leader also cautioned against a situation where residents are forced to rely on political parties or election candidates to address infrastructure responsibilities that should ordinarily be handled by government.
With the bridge currently impassable, residents are urging the authorities to act quickly to restore access and prevent prolonged isolation of the affected communities.
