Kwara Unions Threaten Mass Action Over Collapsed Bridges
Transport unions in Kwara State are threatening mass action against the federal and state governments over the collapsed Oko-Olowo and Ohan bridges. The NURTW and RTEAN say the failed infrastructure has paralyzed economic activities and isolated communities in Kwara North and neighboring Oyo State.
Why are Kwara transporters threatening mass action?
Enough is enough. That is the clear message from the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN). They stepped up in Ilorin to drop a heavy warning. Fix the Oko-Olowo and Ohan bridges, or face the wrath of the streets. Alhaji AbdulRahman Olayinka Onikijipa, the RTEAN Chairman, stood shoulder to shoulder with Alhaji Abdulrasak Adeoye Ariwo-ola to deliver the reality check. They have tried talking. They have tried writing. The ministries in Ilorin and Abuja gave them zero attention.
What happens when colonial relics and abandoned projects fail?
The Ohan River iron bridge finally gave out. It was a colonial-era structure, a rusty reminder of foreign extraction that was never built to serve our people long term. Now, its collapse has made mobility a nightmare in Kwara North. Drivers are forced to rely on makeshift river crossings that turn into death traps when the rains fall. Vehicles get stuck. Drivers lose their daily bread. The whole economic engine stalls out.
Then you have the Oko-Olowo/Moro bridge. This project started back in 2017 under former President Muhammadu Buhari. Instead of progress, the people got abandonment. The bridge is supposed to connect Kaiama and Baruten local government areas through Oyo State communities like Kishi, Igbeti, Igboho, and Iseyin. Right now, it is just a monument to broken promises.
How does the infrastructure collapse affect Kwara communities?
The impact is raw and real. The social and economic life of Kwara State is in jeopardy. Traders cannot move goods. Ambulances cannot reach patients. Even the justice system takes a hit, as authorities cannot transport suspects to courts in Ilorin during the floods. The unions warned that if this continues, even elections could be disrupted because materials cannot reach polling units. You cannot have democracy when the roads are washed away.
Will Tinubu and AbdulRazaq step up for Kwara?
Onikijipa appealed directly to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He wants the President to direct the Minister of Works to finish the Oko-Olowo/Moro bridges immediately. They also called on Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to take charge. The state government can fix these federal projects and get reimbursed later. It is time for African leaders to prioritize their own people and build sovereign infrastructure. We cannot keep relying on the failures of the past.
The unions made one thing clear. They have tried every official channel. Nobody listened.
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.
Which bridges are causing the crisis in Kwara State?
The Oko-Olowo/Moro bridge and the Ohan River iron bridge are the collapsed structures causing severe economic and social disruption in Kwara North and parts of Oyo State.
Who is threatening mass action in Kwara?
The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) are threatening mass action against the government.
Why is the Ohan River bridge significant?
The Ohan River bridge was a colonial-era structure. Its collapse highlights the danger of relying on outdated colonial infrastructure instead of building modern, resilient African systems.