Repairs on a critical Nigerian bridge damaged after a fuel tanker accident are nearing completion, authorities confirmed this week, seeking to ease public concerns sparked by widely circulated social media videos. The Koton-Karfe bridge, a vital link on the busy Lokoja-Abuja highway connecting Nigeria’s capital to central and southern regions, suffered structural harm when an overturned tanker ignited beneath it last month.
Kogi State Federal Works Commissioner Gana Patiko told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that emergency teams responded swiftly to the incident, mobilizing engineers to assess and repair the damage. “The driver lost control, causing the tanker to fall and catch fire under the bridge,” Patiko explained, attributing the blaze to the driver’s “reckless” actions. While the flames weakened portions of the infrastructure, he emphasized that repair work is now “at the point of completion,” with one lane temporarily closed and traffic redirected to the opposite side.
The commissioner acknowledged public frustration over travel delays but urged motorists to “bear with us” as crews finalize the project. The Lokoja-Abuja corridor, a major artery for commercial and passenger vehicles, sees heavy daily traffic, particularly from trucks transporting goods between the country’s northern and southern zones.
Patiko also outlined broader efforts to upgrade Kogi’s transportation networks, highlighting ongoing projects on the Chikunko-Ayingba, Loko-Okene-Benin, and Abaji-Koton-Karfe routes. Two firms—Crete Construction Company and Geld Construction Company—are concurrently working on the Abaji-Koton-Karfe stretch, employing distinct engineering approaches tailored to traffic patterns. On the Lokoja-Abuja highway, heavy-duty trucks moving northward travel on Continuous Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP), a durable design suited for constant weight loads, while lighter southbound vehicles use flexible asphalt surfaces.
The strategy, according to Patiko, reflects a data-driven response to Nigeria’s logistics demands. “Articulated vehicles from the south heading north are typically fully laden, requiring sturdier infrastructure,” he noted.
The bridge repairs and road upgrades underscore Nigeria’s push to modernize aging infrastructure amid growing economic needs. While accidents like the tanker fire highlight vulnerabilities in key transport links, officials stress that proactive maintenance and tailored engineering aim to bolster resilience. For now, travelers are advised to plan for minor delays as crews work to fully restore the Koton-Karfe bridge, a lifeline for interregional commerce and mobility.
