The Ebonyi State Government has launched the construction of a 100-meter, five-span bridge across the Enyim River, connecting Izzi communities in Ebonyi to the Odu people of Benue State. The project, flagged off by Governor Francis Nwifuru, is expected to be completed within eight to nine months and will replace perilous canoe crossings that have claimed over 40 lives in 2025 alone.
Governor Nwifuru described the bridge as “critical to the lives and prosperity” of residents, emphasizing its role in enhancing agricultural trade and regional connectivity. He revealed collaboration with Benue State to construct a complementary road from the Oju axis, ensuring seamless linkage. For decades, locals risked their lives traversing the river, particularly during rainy seasons, with repeated unfulfilled promises of a bridge exacerbating frustrations.
Residents highlighted the bridge’s strategic importance, noting it will drastically reduce travel time to major cities like Lagos and Abuja. “Crossing this bridge to Abuja will take less than eight hours,” one local stated, contrasting sharply with current arduous routes.
The project aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s broader infrastructure agenda, including the 118.8km Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Super Highway launched in April 2025. Works Minister David Umahi praised these efforts as transformative for the Southeast, while former Ebonyi Governor Martin Elechi hailed the highway as a game-changer for regional economies.
Meanwhile, Umahi announced upcoming construction at Ndibe Beach in Afikpo to link Ebonyi and Cross River States, further advancing the federal government’s Renewed Hope infrastructure plan.
