Commuters, residents and business owners travelling through the popular Moro Bridge, which links parts of Oyo North to Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, have continued to battle floodwaters, extortion, business losses and endless delays two weeks after its collapse.
The severe hardship began after the bridge collapsed about two weeks ago.
The collapsed bridge, located after Madalla, serves as a major route connecting communities such as Alapa, Ode-Giwa, Bakase, Igbeti, Kishi, Igboho, Saki and other parts of Oke-Ogun in Oyo State to Kwara State.
Findings by PrimeTimes Nigeria showed that the incident has crippled movement along the route, disrupted commercial activities and left hundreds of motorists stranded daily as they struggle to navigate dangerous alternative paths created around the failed section of the road.
The collapse occurred after a heavy truck carrying stones caved in the already weakened bridge structure, leading to the death of some individuals.
Residents also disclosed that tragedy struck again days later when a young man was reportedly swept away by floodwaters while attempting to cross through the temporary alternative route created after the bridge disaster.
It was noted that due to the recent heavy downpour, the alternative route was filled with water, and the individual’s swimming ability failed him.
Commuters Trapped In Muddy Crossings
PrimeTimes Nigeria correspondent who visited the area observed the difficult conditions commuters now endure daily.
Vehicles, motorcycles and pedestrians were seen struggling to move through muddy and flooded paths created beside the collapsed bridge. Some motorists appeared trapped in deep water while others relied on groups of young men to push their vehicles through slippery portions of the crossing.
Large crowds also gathered around the failed section as travellers waited for hours, hoping the water level would reduce enough for safe passage.
The situation becomes worse whenever rainfall occurs, as vehicles are often completely swallowed up by floodwaters and unable to cross.
They get trapped and even flushed away by the heavy flood.
Motorists told PrimeTimes Nigeria that heavy rainfall usually floods the makeshift route, leaving passengers and drivers stranded on both sides of the road for several hours and, in some cases, days.
Commercial drivers lamented that they now risk damaging their vehicles while attempting to cross the unstable route.
One of the drivers interviewed by PrimeTimes Nigeria correspondent said he was asked to pay ₦15,000 before locals could assist him in dragging his vehicle through the muddy section after losing control of the wheels.
According to him, “My vehicle got stuck in the mud, and there was no way out. I was asked to pay ₦15,000 before they could help me pull it across to the Ilorin side.
“I begged them to accept ₦3,000, but they will not accept my plea. I am trapped here. ”
‘Agberos’ Exploiting Travellers
Commuters also accused local touts, popularly called ‘Agberos’, of taking advantage of the crisis by charging exorbitant fees to help people cross the flooded path.
Travellers said that the group, to its demand, carries different amounts to carry loads, transports goods manually and even assists motorcycles through difficult sections of the crossing.
Motorcyclists and traders were seen negotiating with the helpers before attempting to move through the dangerous route.
Some residents claimed that prices often increase whenever rainfall intensifies or vehicles become trapped in the mud.
“We charge them o. Sometimes we charge ₦3, 000, ₦5,000 and even more to carry loads and help people cross to the other side,” a local tout told PrimeTimes Nigeria.
“We charge even higher to push vehicles.”
He, however, appealed to both the federal and state governments to act swiftly and fix the damaged bridge or provide a better alternative.
Businesses Suffer Losses
The prolonged collapse has also taken a heavy toll on businesses operating between Oyo North and Kwara State.
Traders, transporters and business owners lamented that they could no longer travel freely as movement of goods and passengers has slowed drastically.
Several motorists parked along the road expressed frustration over spending long hours waiting for safer access across the river.
Others said they had lost customers and business opportunities because of delays caused by the failed bridge.
A commercial driver operating between Saki and Ilorin said transport operators now spend more money on repairs and unofficial payments than they make from trips.
According to findings, many travellers now avoid the route entirely, while others are forced to postpone business activities due to uncertainty around the crossing.
Abandoned Alternate Bridge Raises Concerns
Residents also questioned the delay in completing an alternative bridge project reportedly initiated by the government nearly ten years ago beside the collapsed structure.
The unfinished bridge, which many believed would have prevented the current hardship if completed on time, remains abandoned despite years of work.
PrimeTimes Nigeria understands that days after the bridge collapsed, the only visible effort by the State government was dredging the waterways, a development commuters said fell far short of expectations.
PrimeTimes Nigeria correspondence observed that there was no further construction work ongoing on the alternative bridge being constructed by the government on the right side of the collapsed iron bridge.
Local security personnel who spoke to PrimeTimes Nigeria at the site said the failure to complete the project has now exposed thousands of commuters to avoidable risks and economic hardship.
The individual who identified himself as Wasiu Soliu from Idugede, Madalla, therefore appealed to the Kwara State Government and the Federal Government to urgently intervene and provide a lasting solution before more lives are lost.
He, alongside his colleague, warned that continued delays in fixing the bridge could further isolate communities in the Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State and parts of Oyo North, thereby worsening economic activities across the affected axis.