For motorists and residents who are worried and asking questions about the condition of the Oju-Ore Bridge project in Ota, Ogun State, the answer has been simple: the bridge is safe.

The Federal Ministry of Works said so.

Following concerns raised on social media about the structural integrity of the bridge, the ministry inspected the project and declared that it had passed the required integrity tests and remained structurally sound.

The inspection was carried out by a delegation led by the Director of Bridges, Highways and Road Designs,  Musa Saidu, on the directive of the Minister of Works,  David Umahi.

Speaking with journalists after the inspection, Saidu said the assessment found the project compliant with approved engineering standards, dismissing claims of structural defects as unsupported by technical evidence.

“The bridge has undergone integrity tests and passed. It is structurally stable,” he said.

He cautioned against relying on photographs and social media videos to determine the safety of major infrastructure, stressing that such conclusions must be based on scientific and engineering assessments.

“Engineering decisions are based on scientific tests, not assumptions,” he added.

Saidu said the ministry would not compromise on the quality of public infrastructure, noting that the bridge was being constructed according to approved specifications and under the supervision of relevant authorities.

He described the contractor’s work as satisfactory, while acknowledging that some minor finishing works identified during the inspection still needed to be completed.

“The structural stability of the bridge is guaranteed. Heavy trucks are already moving across it, even though construction has not been fully completed,” he said.

The director, however, urged residents and traders to keep away from the area beneath the bridge until construction is completed, warning that the site remained unsafe.

“Construction sites are restricted areas across the world. People should not be trading or loitering beneath an active bridge project. It poses serious safety risks,” he said.

The ministry also expressed confidence that the contractor had overcome earlier challenges that affected the pace of work and would complete the project within the stipulated timeframe.

Representing Laralek Construction Company, the contractor handling the project, Mr Tope Ojo said the bridge was constructed strictly in line with approved designs and government specifications.

According to him, critical components, including the bridge span, bearings, beams and piers, were executed in accordance with the approved drawings, with some elements exceeding the minimum design requirements.

“There is absolutely no cause for alarm. Every integrity test required for the bridge has been conducted, and all results confirmed compliance with engineering standards,” Ojo said.

He explained that the tests were conducted by independent consultants, rather than the construction company, and that the results had been submitted to the relevant authorities.

Ojo also said officials of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) had carried out an on-site technical assessment, examining critical structural components before certifying that the construction complied with the required standards.

For residents who had been unsettled by the reports circulating online, the ministry’s intervention offered some reassurance.

A member of the Oju-Ore Stakeholders Council, Comrade Akomolafe Zubair, welcomed the inspection, saying the technical assessment had helped to restore confidence in the project.

Zubair said the ministry’s position reaffirmed that the contractor was working within government-approved specifications.

He appealed to residents of Ota and motorists who use the corridor to remain patient as the remaining works are completed, expressing optimism that the bridge would soon be opened fully to traffic.