Danger Alert: Atabong Bridge To Collapse, Experts Predict

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By UbongAbasi Ise

The leadership of the Nigerian Institution of Safety Engineers (NISafetyE), Akwa Ibom State Chapter, has predicted imminent collapse of Atabong bridge in Eket, the second largest city in Akwa Ibom State.
Atabong head bridge, which connects Eket to other parts of the state came into news on Friday when fire was set near it by members of the Joint Task Force on Anti-Bunkering Activities that were burning the intercepted boat laden with alleged bunkered petroleum products.
Leading a delegation to the spot of the incident to assess the environmental impact, NISafetyE Chairman, Engr.Akaninyene Ekong told newsmen that the possibility of the bridge collapse is imminent due to direct heating of the underside of the structure by fire for several hours, which has affected the concrete and caused some visible cracks under the bridge.
Ekong further expressed environmental pollution concerns as the ecology of the river has seriously been disrupted, with marine life being affected, especially the fish and plants growing on the river banks.
He maintained that the structural integrity of the bridge has been compromised due to the intense heat from fire which lasted for several hours. The leader of the team then appealed for the speedy passage of the bill to the establish Akwa Ibom State Safety Commission to regulate, monitor and enforce safety compliance in the state as proposed by Mr. Usoro Akpanusoh, member representing Esit Eket/Ibeno state constituency in Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly.
Engr. Akaninyene Ekong further called on the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Chairman of Eket LGC, Ministry of Works, Ministry of environment and other relevant and related parastatals to urgently set up a committee to carry out structural integrity test to ascertain the bridge safety condition.
Ekong noted that there was an imminent threat of collapse of the bridge as visible cracks were seen as a possible result of the fire and called for the relevant agencies to give urgent attention to the matter to ensure public safety.
The NISafetyE chairman further advised the security forces charged with anti-bunkering activities to desist from burning of seized petroleum products on site or near residential areas due to the serious environmental pollution it causes and the direct health effects on people.

©The Sensor Newspaper

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