PRESS STATEMENT

GOVERNOR LALONG INSPECTS COLLAPSED LANTANG-WASE BRIDGE; ORDERS IMMEDIATE INTERVENTION.

Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong on Tuesday 30th June 2020 undertook an on the spot assessment of the damaged Lantang-Wase bridge which has cut off travels between the two Local Governments and other parts of the State as well as Taraba State.
Governor Lalong who was accompanied by Secretary to the Government of the State, Prof. Danladi Atu, Cheif of Staff Noel Dongjur and some members of the State Executive Council, said he was at the site to personally assess the situation and also reassure the people that Government will not neglect them.
Lalong said “although this is a Federal Road, we have to immediately intervene in order to ameliorate the suffering of the people since this road is a major commercial corridor in this area. This is one of the roads that I submitted to the President for Federal Government intervention which has been approved. I will soon be in Abuja to intimate him on this development so that the bridge can be rebuilt immediately”.
The Governor then ordered the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy to immediately provide boats that will ferry people across the river while intermediate work is being carried out.
He thanked the people for their continued support to his administration and assured them that Government will ensure that the bridge and other projects are carried out to improve their living standards.
Emir of Wase, Alhaji Muhammadu Haruna Sambo commended Governor Lalong for showing concern and coming to see things for himself despite sending teams earlier. He said the collapse of the bridge has cut off Wase Local Government from some parts of the State and is greatly affecting economic activities.
He appealed to the Governor to impress on the Federal Government to expedite action on the rehabilitation of the entire road as well as the bridge in order to save his people from economic deprivation.
Alhaji Haruna also appreciated Governor Lalong for his doggedness towards ensuring the discovery and exploration l
of oil and gas within the Wase and Kanam areas as announced by the NNPC recently.
Federal Controller of Works, Plateau State Engr. Usman Magin said already the Federal Ministry of Works has sent teams to assess the situation and work will soon commence on the collapsed bridge.
The Governor also inspected the Duankwam bridge linking Shendam and Garkawa which has also been partially damaged by the rains.
After receiving briefings from the Commissioner for Works, Pam Botmang Governor Lalong directed the contractor already working on the road to immediately deploy to the bridge for quick intervention.
Chairman, Shendam Local Government Miskoom Alex Nuantam appreciated the Governor’s personal visit which he described as reassuring.
Before returning to Jos, the Governor inspected also inspected ongoing reconstruction of Shendam-Ibi road where he asked the contractor to increase the tempo of work in order to cover lost time due to COVID-19.
He said although it is a Federal road, the State is carrying it out to ease the difficulties of the people with the hope that the it will be reimbursed by the Federal Government after completion.

Dr. Makut Simon Macham, ANIPR
Director of Press & Public Affairs to the Governor of Plateau State.
30th June 2020.

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Gov. Lalong Orders Immediate Intervention as He Inspects Collapsed Wase-Langtang Bridge