Get Guardian on GoogleOfficials of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the contractor handling the 600-metre Otuogiri bridge project in Ogbia Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, have dismissed fears raised but some individuals in the state over an alleged report that the bridge collapsed during construction.
Officials of the agency who took journalist on the spot inspection of the ongoing construction of the project explained that the incident was not caused by structural failure, describing it as an accident that occurred during construction.
During the inspection, the NDDC State Director in Bayelsa, Engr. Godknows Alamieyeseigha, said the commission had commenced an on-the-spot assessment to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He expressed confidence in the competence of the contractor, Jillian Group of Companies, to address the issues identified by the commission and deliver the project to the people of Otuogori.
He said preliminary investigations were ongoing and that the commission would make its findings public at the conclusion of the exercise.
Also speaking during the inspection, the Managing Director of Jillian Group of Companies, Engr. Christian Omiezor, explained that the bridge was still at the preparatory stage, with the contractor yet to complete the construction of the bridge structure.
According to him, the incident occurred during the launching of the bridge beams, which were being positioned on their bearings as part of the construction process.
Omiezor explained that the beams were not yet permanently secured and could slide while resting on the bearings, adding that this was what happened during the incident.
He said the occurrence was a minor accident and attributed the absence of casualties to the safety measures put in place at the construction site.
“We are constructing a 600-metre bridge, but as you can see, we have not constructed a bridge yet. What you are seeing is just preparations for the bridge,” he said.
“What was going on was the launching of the beams, and in the process, there was a slight accident. Because the beam was resting on a bearing and had not been secured, it could slide. That was what happened. The good thing is that, with the safety measures put in place, no life was lost.”
“The incident that happened here is not a structural failure, but it was an accident.
“This job is given to us by the NDDC based on the confidence they have with us. We have track record with them. We’ve done a lot of job with them.
“We’re constructing a 600 meters bridge here. As you can see, we have not constructed the bridge yet.There is no bridge here yet. What you’re seeing is just preparation for bridge. Bridge is when you have finished a slab, a concrete structure, that vehicle can drive and cross water to the other side.
“For now, there is no bridge. What was going on was just launching of beams. In the process, they have just a slight accident. That’s just what that happened.
“So when accidents happen, it’s for you to check what happened and put more safety measures in place to make sure it doesn’t happen again. That is why it is called engineering.Using scientific principles to solve problems you discover.”
