From Uchenna Inya, Abakaliki
Ebonyi and Benue states are very popular in the country because of their exploits in agriculture.
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Benue State, known as the food basket of the nation, produces yam, sweet potatoes, cassava, mangoes, oranges, soya beans, guinea corn, groundnuts and many other crops. Ebonyi, its close neighbour, produces rice, yam, cassava, palm oil, and other crops in large quantities.
People from other states visit the two states to buy these foods for consumption and for commercial purposes.
The two states have continued to maintain close relationship since their creation and complement each other in areas in which each of them has comparative advantage over the other.
But the states are facing bad road network and lack of bridges to enhance their relationship.
The Igede people in Oju Local Government Area of Benue State and Enyim Agbaja of Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have been expecting the construction of the bridge linking them for easy access to the two communities and connect them to other states in the country.
Since 1962 when effort was made by Jim Nwobodo, former Governor of old Enugu State, to construct the bridge which didn’t yield any result, it has been the yearnings and aspirations of the two clans to be linked through the bridge which also link Cross River, Kogi and other parts of the country and can be an easy route to Lagos and Abuja.
People of the two neighbouring states have continued to suffer since then, losing their sons and daughters to the bridge in an attempt to use canoes as the only means of transportation.
They revealed that they have lost over 80 persons this year in the Enyim/Oyongo while trying to access their areas through the canoe.
The people made the revelation when the construction of the bridge was flagged off by Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru. The five-span bridge flag-off attracted people from Benue State.
A traditional ruler from Iziogo, Izzi Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Cyprian Nwekee recalled how the river claimed many lives in the local government, including one of his aides who was a successful farmer.
“God wanted to do this bridge through Jim Nwobodo but he said our children will die a lot there during the construction and he couldn’t construct that bridge.
“We tried to connect with Benue and we couldn’t succeed because the bridge was not constructed. There is a market called Iboko Agwo and other markets in Benue and Cross River, because you can also get to Cross River through this bridge.
“So, those markets are where agricultural products are sold but they were not accessible because of the bridge. They were using canoes to bring the food to our side and we were also using the same thing.
“Many people lost their lives trying to transport their agricultural products to the markets. There is one of my boys, a successful farmer. He was into massive yam, cassava, rice, potatoes and other crops cultivation. He was making millions in those crops. He had already crossed the Enyim River with canoe and was ferrying someone across when the boat capsized. And that was how he lost his life,” the monarch said.
Ogba Isaac, Supervisor for Works, Oju Local Government Area of Benue State said his state has lost over 50 lives in the river this year.
He said construction of the bridge by Governor Nwifuru will end the incessant mishap on the river and lauded the Governor for the move.
“I am here to witness the flag-off of Onyongo Bridge, which Izzi people call Enyim Bridge. The construction of this bridge will help us a lot in terms of economic and agricultural activities. The bridge after construction will not be beneficial to only the Izzi people, Ebonyi State and Igede people in Benue State. The bridge is crossing the country.
“From Abakaliki to Oju, Benue State is less than 38miles. If you are travelling to Lagos State, it is the shortest way and if you are crossing this bridge to Abuja, in less than seven hours, you will be in Abuja.
“Our people, our youths, our elders have drowned a lot from this bridge. Our sons and daughters have died here.
“During the rainy season when the water is much, our people used to die a lot trying to cross the bridge inside canoes, and it became a problem to us. We thank Governor Francis Nwifuru for flagging off the construction of this bridge.
“This river has been drowning people every year. This year alone, more than 50 lives have been lost in this river. From January till now, more than 50 persons have gone through this river. Some were discovered after drowning and were buried while some were not. The river just took them like that and we don’t know where they are till now,” he said.
Mrs Nwankwegu Roseline, a farmer from Onuenyim Agbaja. Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, recalled that many people have drowned in the river as a result of boat mishaps.
“This river has claimed many lives of our people who were trying to cross the river through canoes.
“When we want to go to Cross River or Benue State, we can’t go to those states without a canoe and the canoes have been capsizing and killing our people.
“The same thing with those from Benue and Cross River states. When they want to come to our place, they must use the canoe too and they have also lost many lives”, she stated.
Flagging of the multi-billion naira project, Nwifuru said when completed, the project can command immeasurable socio-economic benefits for Ebonyi and Benue states and will ease the transportation of food and offer better routes to Abuja and other Northern states of the federation.
“Indeed, Enyim Agbaja is set to become a gateway to trade, commerce, and an overall economic boost for Ebonyi State. I appreciate my dear brother, the Governor of Benue State, Fr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, who has promised that once we construct the bridge, he will take up the road from Oju Local Government to Vandeikya, his Local Government Area.
“I feel accomplished starting this project today. The Sudan Mission Hospital in Enyim Agbaja saved my life in 1996 after a ghastly motor accident. With the School of Health, Motherless Babies Home and School for the Deaf located here, this bridge surely will offer a huge rise in the quality of education and operations for these institutions.
“Let me therefore appreciate the Nigerian Army for their solid show of capacity in taking up this work. It requires a lot of technical processes because of the river. We are grateful to them, even for the concessions they made to help Ebonyi State in this project.
“The road leading up to the bridge will be awarded too to the same contractor, and I call on the people of Enyim Agbaja, beginning with the traditional ruler, to offer the workers nothing short of their unalloyed support to get the job done,” the governor said.
Chairman of Izzi Local Government Area, Steven Nwanpka opined that the bridge would provide a route for agricultural products to be moved to large markets in Ebonyi while rice and other commodities go up to the North.
“This bridge is a gateway to huge commercial activities for Ebonyi State, especially in the area of transportation. It will fully activate the transportation system in Ebonyi State to Abuja and other Northern states. As we gear up for our International and Cargo Airport to resume flight operations, the bridge will serve as a link for a wide range of movements through the state.
“Your visit to us and the people of Oju Local Government Area in Benue State is historic to us. Before now, the church called Nigeria Reformed Church(NRC), came into the community, advanced through Benue State and brought the gospel here.
“Ever since 1962, the yearnings and aspirations of collective people of Izzi Local Government and particularly, these people, is to link us with Benue because we have viable economic activities in Benue. The same thing applies to them.
“And therefore, this bridge that you are giving us today, has given us very laudable opportunities to rewrite the destiny of yesterday years. This road can now be designated as a federal road because from here to Makurdi is less than two hours. From here to Abuja is less than five hours and therefore if this is completed, it is going to open more economic opportunities, social opportunities and even political opportunities.”
The Director of Project, Snappers Engineering Nigeria Limited and project Coordinator of the bridge project, Brigadier General Saidu Selki Bello said the bridge will assist in tackling insecurity within the two states and other neighbouring states, noting that it would deter insurgents when completed.
He explained that the major task of the construction company was to ensure that it assists the state in making the work done at the very least minimal cost. He described the project as a big one which takes a lot of equipment.
“The duration of the project is between eight and nine months. And this a five-span bridge project. The gap is about 100 metres.
“The security concern is that if the bridge is made across and the road is being constructed, it will enable the troops to quickly move in to protect the situation,” he stated.
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