By Stephen Adeleye
Lokoja – The Federal Government has restored the street lights on Murtala Muhammed (Jamata) Bridge along the Lokoja-Abuja Highway for the safety of motorists and travellers.
Mr Saka Odufuwa, the Deputy Director, Electrical/Street Lighting of the Federal Ministry of Power , Works and Housing, switched on the street lights on Friday night at Koton-Karfe.
Odufuwa told newsmen that the restoration of the lights was to ensure the security and safety of travellers on the bridge at night.
He said that the Federal Government had made available some fund to power the generators for five days during the Eid el-Kabir festive season.
“The streetlights were constructed and installed in April 2015 and we are creating the awareness that such facilities are available on the bridge.
“The street lights, which have 22 poles on each side of the bridge, are powered by two generators of 40KVA and 60 KVA capacity installed to run alternately.
“It would be lit for 11 hours from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. every night for five days and continue as long as fund is consistently made available by the ministry to fuel the generators.
“This step is part of the Federal Government’s efforts and strategy towards ensuring safety on bridges along Nigerian roads at night, especially during festive seasons.”
The director added that the ministry would replicate such lighting projects on other bridges in Makurdi, Jebba and Adamawa, among many others across the federation.
Reacting to the development, Mr Bala Usman, a motorist, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he was happy that the Federal Government had finally restored the street lights on Jamata bridge.
While commending the government for the feat, Usman urged the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to rehabilitate some bad portions of the bridge as soon as possible.
NAN reports that the bridge, popularly called ‘Jamata’ is located in Jamata District of Lokoja Local Government.
The bridge is 1.76 km long and 20 metres wide with a 2-metre wide pedestrian walkway at both sides. (NAN)
ASA/NKO/NKO
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Edited By Nkechi Okoronkwo
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