By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed deep sorrows over the tragic petrol tanker explosion which resulted in the death of over 150 people with many others injured in Majiya Town, Taura Local Government Area of Jigawa State.

The party in a statement by its Spokesman, Hon.

Debo Ologunagba, on Thursday called on the Federal Government to investigate the remote and immediate cause of the explosion in order to take measures to ensure safer transportation and prevent recurrence of such sad incidents.

“This is another sad commentary on the wave of calamitous events that have befallen our nation as a result of worsening infrastructure, economic hardship and social disorientation in the last nine years.

“Our party is saddened that innocent and heavily deprived Nigerians especially our youths and bread winners of families continue to bear the ugly brunt of misgovernance in our country,” the statement said, and lauded the efforts and courage of the police, firefighters and other Nigerians who helped to put off the fire and rescued some of the victims.

The PDP commiserated with the Government and people of Jigawa State and prays to God to grant speedy recovery to the injured and fortitude to the families of the deceased.

From Ajiya Ayuba, Bauchi

The Councillor representing Bogoro Ward, Bogoro local government area of Bauchi State, Hon Gwandah Simon has renovated nine hand pump boreholes across the Ward.

The Lawmaker, who is better known as Gatan Kowa, said that he was taking the move to tackle water scarcity that is affecting the people of the area over the years.

Simon made this known during the renovation of boreholes in some communities of Bogoro metropolitan, Bom, Kurum Dodo, Kurum Sarauta, Kurum Bakin Kasuwa, Kadunan Bogoro.

He explained that the boreholes developed serious faults that led to the water scarcity witnessed in the area.

He said that the purpose of fixing the damaged boreholes was to enable the people in those wards, especially those who are rearing animals and farmers who are into irrigation.

“Provision of potable water to my ward was one of my campaign promises that is why I started my developmental Project with the provision of water supply.

“I was born in Bogoro C Ward and I know the main problem of my area, since I was a child, so this is the right time for me to be solving the problems one after the other.

According to him, “In the history of Bogoro local government, there is no Ward that is having scarcity of water supply like my Ward, that’s the Bogoro C, which is the headquarters of the local government that is full with people.”

He thanked his people for their support, promising that he will continue to deliver more dividends of democracy in Bogoro C Ward.

Describing water as life, Simon disclosed that the renovated boreholes will solve the water problem which the people have been facing over the years.

He told journalists shortly after the renovation of the boreholes that the need to meet the water needs of his people necessitated the water project which, according to him, will go a long way in meeting the water needs of his constituency.

Simon charged the people of the communities to guard the renovated boreholes against vandals and thieves, assuring of his commitment to providing more amenities that will have direct impact on the lives of the people.

The Councillor thanked the local government chairman, Yakubu Lawi Sumi and the state governor, Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir for supporting him in so many ways.

In his part, the village head of Bogoro, Nuhu Tafida said “This water project has brought smiles to the faces of our people as their long thirst for clean and consumable water has been quenched.”

The village head advised the people of the affected communities to ensure durability of the renovated boreholes through proper maintenance.

By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja

The Senate on Thursday expressed worries over the imminent collapse of Zungeru Bridge in Niger State, calling on the Ministry of Works to intervene, repair, rehabilitate and reconstruct the bridge to ensure smooth movement on it.

The Senate, which called on the Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency ( FERMA) to as a matter of urgency fix the bridge, also urged the Ministry of Works and the Nigerian Railway Corporation ( NRC ) to conduct structural assessments of the old Zungeru bridge and put in place measures to avert further collapse.

 

Calling for the evaluation of the state of bridges across the country by relevant authorities, the red chambers resolved that contingency funds domiciled in the Ministry of Works and Service Wide Vote in the Ministry of Finance should be used on emergency basis towards refixing collapsed bridges across the country.

Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), who drew the attention of the Senate to the menace yesterday during plenary, lamented that the Zungeru Bridge, which is a critical Federal infrastructure in the country, providing access across the Kaduna River, had collapsed and due to its deteriorating condition and bad shape, traffic were been diverted to the old bridge, originally designed for railway use but currently serving both rail and motor vehicle traffic.

He added that as a result of the diversion, “the old bridge is under severe pressure, posing a significant threat of collapse, which could lead to catastrophic consequences, as over 1,000 vehicles pass through the route on a daily basis in order to facilitate movement of people, essential goods and food items.”

The diversion and disruption, according to him, caused by the current state of the bridge, “has invariably restricted human and economic activities, with food supplies particularly affected and heightened insecurity in the areas, thereby causing hardships on the residents and travelers as well”.

He warned that if urgent intervention measures were not put in place to address the infrastructural challenge, the continuous usage of the old bridge will lead to devastating social and economic consequences that could further aggravate insecurity and disrupt national supply chains, which will have a far-reaching effect on the well-being of the citizenry.