Makurdi — The contractors handling the hitherto collapsed Adoka River Main Bridge in Adoka in Otukpo local government area of Benue State, has completed the job which began about one month ago.

Engineer Dan Adeyi, the Project Manager of Integrated Beaulah Project Limited, the contractors handling the job told Daily Trust at the weekend that the job was ready to be handed to the lawmaker representing Otukpo/Ohimini Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Rep. Nelson Alapa for commissioning.

Alapa, who awarded the contract as part of his constituency project in the area told Daily Trust that he can now sleep since the people's hardship of over a year now is addressed.

"I am glad to God for the resources and initiative to award the contract for the rehabilitation and onward maintenance of the bridge. I can now sleep knowing that my people will not face the hardship of conveying their harvests to the market as a result of absence of a bridge across the river", he said.

The lawmaker added that he has made all arrangements to invite Governor Suswam to commission the bridge which he dedicated to the governor's infrastructural development programme.

The Project Manager, who spoke to our correspondent at Adoka, weekend, said the job which specification is "Rehabilitation/Maintenance", is excellent, adding that "the bridge is now strong and can last for over 20 years before any damage can be observed on it."

The collapse of the bridge, according to Och'Adoka (the traditional ruler of the area), Chief Samuel Onu, has affected life around the neighboruing communities as farmers continued to groan under the absence of a link to the markets. He said the economy of the communities suffered in the hands of neglect of the bridge.

The traditional ruler commended the lawmaker for extending his constituency projects to include the rehabilitation of the bridge along a road linking Benue communities with neigbouring states, saying the gesture puts a challenge on other representatives of the people to emulate the project to also provide for the people.

The bridge which was constructed by military engineers of the Nigerian Army to aid federal troops to link many parts of Eastern Nigeria has remained for over 38 years without maintenance, a development which resulted in the disrepair. The bridge has remained one of the major links between North and East, with trailer loads of agricultural produce leaving the peasant communities of Otukpo, Ohimini, Agatu, Apa and many other areas of Benue-South through it.