Onitsha bridge collapses

One of the oldest colonial drainages in the country, located on Old Market Road, Onitsha in Anambra State, has collapsed, cutting off the main market. The collapsed bridge also damaged a car parked on the road leading to the market.

It was gathered that the drainage, built by the colonial masters, early 1927, started caving in recently, following lack of maintenance and heavy traffic. It finally yielded to pressure yesterday and collapsed.

An eyewitness, who has a shop opposite the collapsed drainage and gave her name simply as Chinwe, said the collapse of the bridge might not be unconnected with its age as well as lack of maintenance by successive administrations in the state.

Chinwe disclosed that she heard a loud sound, when the drainage collapsed, adding that a Toyota Siena car parked along the road was affected, following the shockwaves created by the collapse of the drainage. more