Residents of the Trofani and Canan-Irri Ijaw and Isoko communities in Sagbama Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, along with those from Ikpide-Irri in Delta State’s Isoko South Local Government Area, are pleading for urgent assistance after the primary bridge connecting their areas collapsed suddenly. This critical link, which provides access through Odi road in Bayelsa’s Kolokuma/Opokuma LGA, fell on Monday, leaving travelers, traders, and officials stranded.
According to sources, the bridge’s collapse has isolated these three riverine communities from neighboring regions in Bayelsa and Delta, with strong river currents beneath the fallen structure feeding into the Niger River. The incident is largely attributed to a combination of substandard construction and recent flooding in the area.
Pere, a local resident, expressed dismay over the situation, criticizing what he described as the “cost of shoddy jobs by contractors in Nigeria.” He urged Bayelsa Governor Douye Diri and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to step in promptly before the damage escalates.
An eyewitness recounted that the bridge gave way around 8 a.m., shortly after a vehicle transporting passengers from Ikpide-Irri to Oleh town had crossed. The collapse has severely disrupted the lives of residents, particularly those who rely on this route daily, including farmers and small business owners.
Residents from the affected communities have reportedly sent a Save-Our-Souls (SOS) appeal to the federal government, the NDDC, as well as the Bayelsa and Delta State governments, requesting immediate intervention to repair the bridge and prevent further isolation as seasonal flooding worsens.
In response, a Delta-based social group, “Concerned Indigenes of Ikpide-Irri 4-Development,” issued a statement, calling the bridge collapse a “very unfortunate incident” and highlighting the pressing need for intervention. The group urged the NDDC to not only address the bridge but also to fix a concrete pavement road in Trofani that has been in disrepair for more than five years.
“The collapsed bridge is currently the only road access to Trofani, Ikpide-Irri, and Canan-Irri communities, all located along the Niger River. With rising floodwaters, accessing these towns is now nearly impossible except by boat,” the statement noted. “We urge Bayelsa’s governor and NDDC officials to assess the damage urgently, as part of the road is already crumbling into the river. If left unaddressed, more sections of the road could be lost within days.”
The bridge collapse has cut residents off from nearby communities, leaving market vendors, commuters, and visitors without passage. Community members are calling on the Bayelsa State government and the NDDC to respond promptly, warning that conditions could worsen without intervention.
“This is the only link road from Odi and nearby parts of Delta and Bayelsa states to these communities, all of which are now cut off. We appeal to the authorities to come to our aid before the situation spirals out of control,” the statement concluded.
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