Works ministry declares Ogun bridge safe

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The Federal Ministry of Works has declared the Oju-Ore Bridge in Ota, Ogun State, structurally sound, dismissing claims circulating on social media that the bridge was defective.

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The Director of Bridges, Highways and Road Designs, Engr. Musa Saidu, said the bridge had passed all required integrity tests and met engineering standards.

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Speaking during an inspection of the ongoing bridge project by a delegation from the ministry on Friday, said the exercise was carried out following public concerns over the quality of the project.

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Saidu, who led the delegation on the directive of the Minister of Works, David Umahi, said allegations of structural defects were unfounded and not backed by any technical evidence.

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Addressing journalists after the inspection, Saidu said, “The bridge has undergone integrity tests and passed. It is structurally stable.

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“No one can determine the integrity of a bridge simply by taking photographs or posting videos on social media. Engineering decisions are based on scientific tests, not assumptions.”

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He maintained that the Ministry of Works would not compromise on quality, adding that the bridge was being constructed in accordance with approved specifications and under strict supervision.

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According to him, the quality of work carried out by the contractor was satisfactory, while only minor finishing issues identified during the inspection would be corrected before completion.

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“The structural stability of the bridge is guaranteed. Heavy trucks are already moving across it, even though construction has not been fully completed. That alone demonstrates its strength,” he added.

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The director urged the public to support indigenous contractors executing government projects instead of spreading unverified allegations capable of undermining confidence in critical infrastructure.

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He also warned traders and other members of the public against occupying the area beneath the bridge, describing the practice as unsafe and unacceptable.

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“Construction sites are restricted areas across the world. People should not be trading or loitering beneath an active bridge project. It poses serious safety risks,” he said.

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The ministry expressed confidence that the contractor had overcome earlier challenges affecting the pace of work and would deliver the project within the stipulated timeframe.

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Representing Laralek Construction Company, the contractor handling the project, Mr. Tope Ojo, reaffirmed that the bridge was being constructed strictly in line with the approved engineering design and government specifications.

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He said every structural component, including the span, bearings, beams and piers, was executed according to approved drawings, with some elements exceeding the minimum design requirements.

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“There is absolutely no cause for alarm. Every integrity test required for the bridge has been conducted, and all results confirmed compliance with engineering standards,” Ojo stated.

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He disclosed that the tests were conducted by independent consultants rather than the construction company, adding that the results had been presented to relevant authorities.

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According to him, officials of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria also carried out an on-site technical assessment of the project and certified that the construction complied with required standards after examining all critical structural elements.

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Reacting to the inspection, a member of the Oju-Ore Stakeholders Council, Comrade Akomolafe Zubair, welcomed the ministry’s intervention and expressed satisfaction with the technical assessment.

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