NDDC probes Bayelsa bridge accident, rules out structural failure

From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has begun investigating an accident at the 600-metre Otuogori Bridge project in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, with its state director, Godknows Alamieyeseigha, attributing the incident to a construction mishap rather than structural failure.

Alamieyeseigha led officials of the commission and journalists on an inspection of the project on Monday, saying the assessment would establish the circumstances surrounding the accident.

He linked the incident to the belt holding the bridge beams during construction, adding that preliminary investigations were ongoing and the commission would make its findings public when the exercise was concluded.

The state director expressed confidence in the contractor, Jillian Group of Companies, to address the issues identified during the inspection and complete the project for the people of Otuogori.

Managing Director of the company, Christian Omiezor, said the incident occurred while workers were launching the bridge beams and positioning them on their bearings.

He explained that the affected beam had not been permanently secured and slid while resting on a bearing, describing the incident as a minor construction accident. No life was lost, he said.

“We are constructing a 600-metre bridge, but as you can see, we have not constructed a bridge yet. What you are seeing is just preparations for the bridge,” Omiezor said.

“What was going on was the launching of the beams, and in the process, there was a slight accident. Because the beam was resting on a bearing and had not been secured, it could slide. That was what happened. The good thing is that, with the safety measures put in place, no life was lost.”