From John Adams, Minna
Hundreds of vehicles, both private and commercial and other road users were stranded along Bida-Minna Road in Niger state following a heavy downpour which washed away the only bridge linking the two towns.
The three-day heavy rainfall also wreaked havoc on houses and farmlands in the state and completely cut off the bridge at Wuya Village along Bida-Minna Road, leaving commuters stranded.
Following this development, the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) in the state issued a statement calling on motorists, especially those travelling from Lagos through Bida to Minna to avoid the road as it was not passable.
FRSC’s Head of Media Relation and Strategy, Bisi Kazeem said flood has cut off a large portion of the bridge and warned “it is dangerous for motorists to use it.”
Kareem said the affected portion of the road is on the verge of collapse and stressed that warning of motorists to avoid the road became necessary to save travellers from going through unnecessary hardship.
He urged motorists travelling from Lagos to Minna to use Bida-Lapai-Paiko-Minna Road, while those leaving Lagos to Abuja via the same route to divert to Bida-Lapai-Paiko-Suleja as alternative routes until proper repair is carried out on the washed away portion.
Kazeem said FRSC officers and men will be deployed to the area to control traffic to avoid any accident.