Kwara Transport Unions issue ultimatum for protest over damaged Oko-Olowo and Ohan bridges

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By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

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Transport unions in Kwara State have threatened mass action against the federal and state governments over the deteriorating condition of the Oko-Olowo and Ohan bridges, which they say have severely disrupted economic activities in parts of Kwara and neighbouring Oyo State.

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The unions, comprising the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), issued the warning during a joint press conference held in Ilorin.

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They described the bridges as critical infrastructure linking communities in Kwara North to other parts of the state and adjoining areas in Oyo State.

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Spokesperson of the unions and Chairman of RTEAN in the state, Alhaji AbdulRahman Olayinka Onikijipa, alongside his counterpart Alhaji Abdulrasak Adeoye Ariwo-ola, said repeated efforts to engage relevant authorities had yielded no results.

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They said the press briefing became necessary after failed attempts to get the attention of officials at both the Kwara State Ministry of Works and the Federal Ministry of Works in Ilorin and Abuja.

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Onikijipa appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Minister of Works to urgently complete the Oko-Olowo/Moro bridges to restore economic activities and ease hardship in the affected communities.

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He warned that the unions would resort to mass action if government failed to respond.

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“We have done everything humanly possible to make the state and federal governments see reason, but their refusal prompted this press conference. If after everything they still refuse to repair the bridges, we know what to do — we will take mass action against the governments,” he said.

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The unions recalled that the bridge project, initiated in 2017 during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, had been abandoned, leaving residents, traders, and transport operators stranded.

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They noted that the Oko-Olowo/Moro Bridge serves as a key route connecting Kaiama and Baruten Local Government Areas through communities in Oyo State, including Kishi, Igbeti, Igboho, and Iseyin.

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“The economic and social life of the people of Kwara State has been in jeopardy since the project was abandoned,” the unions stated.

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They also lamented the collapse of the Ohan River iron bridge, describing it as a colonial-era structure whose failure has further worsened mobility challenges in Kwara North.

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According to them, the situation has forced transport operators to rely on makeshift river crossings, which become impassable during the rainy season, leading to frequent disruptions and loss of income.

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The unions said many drivers are rendered jobless during heavy rains when the alternative routes are unusable, affecting livelihoods and tax obligations.

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They also raised concerns over safety risks, noting that vehicles often get stuck while attempting to cross flooded areas.

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In addition, they said the poor state of the bridges affects emergency services, including the movement of ambulances and the transportation of inmates and suspects to courts in Ilorin during flooding periods.

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The unions further warned that electoral processes in Kwara North could be disrupted if the situation persists, as election materials may not reach polling units due to inaccessible roads.

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They urged Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to intervene and work with relevant federal agencies to find a lasting solution to the infrastructure challenges.

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The transport groups expressed confidence that the state government could undertake the repairs as federal projects and later seek reimbursement from the federal government.

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They maintained that urgent intervention was necessary to prevent further economic hardship and isolation of affected communities.

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