Kwara Transport Unions Warn of Mass Action Over Collapsed Oko‑Olowo and Ohan Bridges

By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

Transport unions in Kwara State have warned that they will launch a mass protest against both the federal and state governments if the deteriorating condition of the Oko‑Olowo and Ohan bridges is not addressed promptly. The unions say the bridges have severely disrupted economic activity in parts of Kwara and neighbouring Oyo State.

The warning came during a joint press conference in Ilorin, where the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) spoke together. They described the bridges as critical links that connect communities in Kwara North to other parts of the state and to adjacent areas in Oyo.

Alhaji AbdulRahman Olayinka Onikijipa, spokesperson for the unions and Chairman of RTEAN in the state, and his counterpart Alhaji Abdulrasak Adeoye Ariwo‑ola explained that repeated attempts to engage the relevant authorities had been unsuccessful. The press briefing was deemed necessary after failed efforts to capture the attention of officials at both the Kwara State Ministry of Works and the Federal Ministry of Works in Ilorin and Abuja.

Onikijipa urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to direct the Minister of Works to urgently complete the Oko‑Olowo/Moro bridges, arguing that doing so would restore economic activity and relieve hardship in the affected communities. He warned that the unions would resort to mass action if the government failed to respond.

“We have done everything humanly possible to make the state and federal governments see reason, but their refusal prompted this press conference. If after everything they still refuse to repair the bridges, we know what to do — we will take mass action against the governments,” he said.

The unions recalled that the bridge project, which began in 2017 during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, was abandoned, leaving residents, traders and transport operators stranded. The Oko‑Olowo/Moro Bridge is a key route that connects Kaiama and Baruten Local Government Areas through communities in Oyo State, including Kishi, Igbeti, Igboho and Iseyin.

“The economic and social life of the people of Kwara State has been in jeopardy since the project was abandoned,” the unions stated.

They also highlighted the collapse of the Ohan River iron bridge, a colonial‑era structure whose failure has further worsened mobility challenges in Kwara North. According to the unions, the situation has forced transport operators to rely on makeshift river crossings that become impassable during the rainy season, leading to frequent disruptions and loss of income.

Many drivers are rendered jobless during heavy rains when alternative routes are unusable, affecting livelihoods and tax obligations. The unions also raised safety concerns, noting that vehicles often get stuck while attempting to cross flooded areas.

In addition, the poor state of the bridges hampers emergency services, including the movement of ambulances and the transportation of inmates and suspects to courts in Ilorin during flooding periods. The unions warned that electoral processes in Kwara North could be disrupted if the situation persists, as election materials may not reach polling units due to inaccessible roads.

They urged Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to intervene and work with relevant federal agencies to find a lasting solution to the infrastructure challenges. The transport groups expressed confidence that the state government could undertake the repairs as federal projects and later seek reimbursement from the federal government. They maintained that urgent intervention was necessary to prevent further economic hardship and isolation of affected communities.

The post Kwara Transport Unions threaten mass action over collapsed Oko-Olowo, Ohan Bridges appeared first on Vanguard News.