By Ben Adaji, Jalingo
Months after the collapse of the Namnai Bridge along the Jalingo-Wukari Federal Highway, cries for intervention from Taraba State have grown louder.
Senator Haruna Manu, representing Taraba Central in the Senate, and other stakeholders are appealing to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for immediate action to reconstruct the vital infrastructure, which has been out of service since August last year.
The Namnai Bridge, a critical link between southern Nigeria, the North-East region, and the Federal Capital Territory, served as an economic lifeline, connecting Taraba with neighboring states such as Benue, Plateau, and Nasarawa. Its collapse after heavy rainfall has severely disrupted social and economic activities, leaving motorists stranded and communities isolated.
In the wake of the collapse, locals and travelers resorted to temporary measures, such as canoes and ferries, to navigate the river. However, businesses and trade in the region have suffered, with vehicles forced to take a 120-kilometer detour via Garba-Chede-Mutum and Jalingo roads, significantly increasing travel costs and time.
Despite assurances from the state government to install a military floating bridge, no action has been taken, leaving residents frustrated.
Residents are questioning why bridges in other parts of the North-East, such as those along the Yola-Gombe and Gombe-Bauchi roads, have been reconstructed, while the Namnai Bridge remains neglected. Senator Haruna Manu highlighted the disparity, calling for equal attention to Taraba’s plight.
Both Senator Manu and Hon. Ja’faru Yakubu Chiroma, who represents Bali/Gassol Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, have raised the matter on the floors of their 
Manu disclosed that he has personally engaged the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and emphasized the bridge’s strategic importance, urging the government to act before the rainy season begins.
Chiroma, who mobilized two ferries to aid stranded motorists after the collapse, has also engaged the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) for intervention. The NEDC has assessed the damage and promised action, but no progress has been seen on the ground.
Prominent Taraba stakeholders warn that if reconstruction does not commence before the rainy season, Taraba risks being cut off from the rest of the country, with dire economic and social consequences.
They urge President Tinubu to prioritize the Namnai Bridge, just as the federal government acted swiftly to address similar challenges in other states.
As the rainy season looms, the people of Taraba wait anxiously for tangible progress, hoping their cries for help will not go unheard.
