The Federal Government has announced the immediate closure of the damaged carriageway of the Keffi Flyover in Nasarawa State following the collapse of a supporting beam. The move is aimed at preventing a potential disaster, as traffic is now being diverted for safety.
The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, gave the directive during a press briefing, expressing serious concerns over the structural integrity of bridges across the country. According to Umahi, a senior technical team from Escavator and the Ministry’s Controller of Works have been deployed to carry out a detailed assessment of the affected flyover.
He warned that if the second carriageway also shows signs of structural weakness, the entire bridge would be closed to the public.
Umahi further revealed that similar beam dislocations have been discovered on at least seven other bridges along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, with some showing up to four dislodged beams. Although President Bola Tinubu has approved emergency repair works, progress has been slow due to delays in fund disbursement.
To curb recurring damage and enhance bridge safety nationwide, the Ministry of Works will now increase the standard headroom clearance on all flyovers from 5.6 meters to 6.5 meters. Additionally, heavy-duty metal barriers will be installed at both ends of flyovers to block access to over-height vehicles, which have been identified as major culprits in bridge damage.
The government is urging motorists and the general public to cooperate with ongoing diversions and safety measures as efforts continue to prevent infrastructure failures and ensure public safety.
