A portion of the ever busy Akpajo/Aleto bridge in Eleme-Ogoni axis of the East/West road I Rivers State has collapsed.
It collapsed barely 48 hours after Ogoni youths staged a protest calling for attention on the deplorable state of the road.
The incident, which occurred on Thursday afternoon, forced motorists to struggle with just the remaining portion.
The bridge it was learnt has been showing signs of weakness for sometimes.
The youths, who demonstrated on Tuesday under the aegis of Ogoni Youth Federation of (OYF), gave the Federal Government 14-days ultimatum to remobilise contractors to site or face indefinite blockage of the road.
This publication recalls that last year, Senator Barry Mpigi (Rivers South-East) led his other colleagues in the state to stage a protest on the bridge to call attention of the federal goverment, Niger Delta Development Commission(NDDC), and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to the situation and appealed for intervention.
Shortly after the action, the NDDC intervened by constructing a shore protection platform on the side of the bridge.
Also, few weeks ago, the member representing Khana/Gokana federal constituency and chairman Host Communities Committee, Rep Dum Dekor led members of the house to the area to see the poor nature of the road.
Eleme/Akpajo road links to multi- billion dollar investments in the state, including Onne Port/free trade zone, Indorama, Fertilizer company, Eleme refinery, Naval College and other Niger Delta States, including Akwa Ibom.
