Residents of Ikot Mfon in Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State have made a heartfelt appeal to the state government for the urgent reconstruction of the collapsed Ikot Mfon/Ndiya bridge, which has tragically claimed at least three lives, including schoolchildren.
The bridge, originally built by the military during the Nigerian Civil War, has long served as a vital connection for motorists and traders transporting agricultural produce, making its collapse in 2011 a severe blow to the community.
Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, Ekaette Akpan, a community leader representing the village head, expressed the growing frustration of local residents. She lamented that the collapse of the bridge has isolated Ikot Mfon, disrupting not only social life but also economic activities in the region.
“Since the bridge collapsed, more than three people have died trying to cross, including schoolchildren. Apart from the tragic loss of life, our economic activities have been severely impacted because this road and bridge are the only access points to Ndiya, connecting us to Eket, Oron, and other parts of Akwa Ibom,” Akpan shared.
Flanked by the deputy village head, Obong Safety Tony, Akpan urged Governor Umo Eno to act swiftly to prevent further casualties. She stressed that without the bridge, the residents have been forced to rely on unsafe boats to reach essential services such as healthcare and education, exposing them to greater risks.
The ongoing plight of the community has not gone unnoticed by local lawmakers. Uduak Ekpo-Ufot, a member representing Etinan State Constituency in the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly, raised the issue in July 2023, calling for immediate government intervention.
In his motion, Ekpo-Ufot described the bridge, built around 1970, as a “death trap” and warned that the continued neglect of the bridge would only escalate the suffering of the residents. He emphasized that without urgent action, the loss of life would likely continue, and the economic hardship in the area would deepen.
With residents and local officials alike calling for swift action, the demand for the reconstruction of the Ikot Mfon/Ndiya bridge has become an urgent issue that, if addressed, could help restore vital access and prevent further fatalities in the community.
