As heavy rains continue across Taraba State in 2025, the people of Gassol Local Government Area are facing growing hardship due to the long-abandoned Namnai Bridge. The bridge, which was swept away by floods in 2024, remains in ruins nearly a year later, leaving residents and travelers disconnected from essential routes.
Located along a major road that links Taraba to neighboring Benue State, the Namnai Bridge once supported the movement of farmers, commuters, and traders between communities. Its absence has caused significant setbacks, turning what used to be short, daily trips into exhausting journeys through dangerous bush tracks and eroded footpaths.
Travelers now spend several hours trying to navigate these routes, often breaking down or getting stuck. Commercial transport operators are among those most affected.
Musa Ibrahim, a driver along the Jalingo–Makurdi route, shared his frustration with DAILY POST, saying, “We are suffering. Sometimes we spend an entire day navigating through bush paths, and we still risk breaking down or getting stuck.”
With the usual road out of use, fuel expenses have climbed, vehicle maintenance costs have surged, and passengers are now avoiding the route altogether. As a result, many drivers have abandoned the corridor, and some transport companies have suspended operations in the area.
Beyond the transport sector, the bridge’s collapse has taken a serious toll on local agriculture and trade. Farmers in Namnai and nearby villages are now unable to bring their crops to markets in Wukari and Makurdi. Large quantities of produce are left to rot on farmlands. In response, middlemen are exploiting the situation by offering very low prices for goods.
Local traders report fewer goods on the market, slower sales, and a drop in income. Some small businesses have closed down entirely. Youth unemployment is increasing, adding to the frustration and anxiety in affected communities.
Residents and community leaders have made repeated calls to the Taraba State Government, urging them to rebuild the bridge. They say their pleas have gone unanswered, raising concerns that their voices are being ignored. “The collapse happened almost a year ago, and nothing has been done. Are we not part of Taraba State?” asked Aisha Saleh, a trader in Namnai.
