By Ado Oyeyemi
Hundreds of commuters travelling along the Ilorin–Igbeti Federal Highway in Kwara State were stranded on Monday after heavy flooding triggered the collapse of the Moro Bridge, disrupting movement on the busy interstate corridor.
Several vehicles were trapped in the floodwaters following the overnight rainfall, which caused the Moro River to overflow its banks and inundate sections of the road.
Eyewitnesses said some passengers climbed onto the roofs of stranded vehicles while waiting to be rescued from the rising water.
The affected bridge is located between the Oko-Olowo and Mandala areas spanning Ilorin West and Asa Local Government Areas of the state.
The latest incident comes weeks after the bridge reportedly suffered structural failure on April 30 when a heavy-duty articulated truck passed over the ageing facility, cutting off a major route linking Kwara State to Oyo State and neighbouring communities leading towards the Benin Republic border.
Efforts by the state government to provide a temporary diversion route after the earlier collapse were said to have been overwhelmed by Monday’s flooding, as repair works on the bridge had yet to be completed.
Motorists and residents expressed frustration over the prolonged delay in fixing the damaged structure, warning that the situation could deteriorate further as the rainy season intensifies.
Some commuters lamented the hardship caused by the disruption, noting that the flooded route had become increasingly dangerous for travellers and residents in surrounding communities.
Concerns have also mounted among residents living around the Moro River axis, with fears that heavier rainfall expected in the coming months could worsen flooding and further isolate affected communities.
Following the initial collapse of the bridge in April, the Kwara State Government announced traffic diversion measures and assured residents that urgent intervention would be carried out to ease transportation challenges.
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The Commissioner for Works, Abdulquawiy Olododo, had earlier stated that the state government was collaborating with relevant federal authorities to address the deteriorating condition of the bridge and restore normal movement along the route.
