The North East Development Commission (NEDC), has sought the collaboration of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) in the rehabilitation of bridges and roads affected by floods in the sub-region.
Devastating floods led to the collapse of many bridges in the Northeastern states of Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Bauchi, Taraba and Gombe.
Speaking at an emergency meeting with the engineers in Maiduguri on Friday, the Managing Director, of NEDC, Mr Mohammed Alkali, whose team went around for an inspection tour of the six states raised concern over the destruction of bridges and roads in the region.
“There is no state in the northeast that is not affected, however, that of Maiduguri remained the apex.
“As per our mandate, we have decided to intervene appropriately across the northeast zone.
“NSE is the right body to work with as far as the issue of affected bridges and roads are concerned.
“The commission has visited all the six states; in Taraba I know of two bridges that collapsed completely, in Adamawa we have more than five, in Yobe about three, same in Bauchi and Gombe with Maiduguri as the climax,” Alkali said.
He tasked the NSE members with a quick assessment of the destruction to ascertain the cost of repairs in view of the vital role of the bridges in the socio-economic development of the affected states.
Speaking on behalf of the engineers, the Borno branch Chairman of NSE, Mr Mohammed Shettima, said the state branch had constituted a 32-member committee immediately after the incident.
The committee according to him, comprises experts in various sectors of engineering.
Shettima said that for the engineers to fast-track action on the issue, there was a need for NEDC to provide a letter of intent or engagement and a detailed brief of terms of reference.
NAN
