The recent flooding incident at the Kapda Bridge in Mararaba, Nasarawa State has prompted a strong response from the Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHAssociation) Nigeria Region.
According to eyewitness reports, the heavy rainfall on July 23rd caused the Kapda Bridge to become submerged, trapping several vehicles and pedestrians. Unfortunately, a bike man who was carrying a woman was seen falling into the flood ways, the fate of the bike man and the woman are still unknown.
This sad incident calls for the urgent need to address the area’s flood vulnerability. OSHAssociation is urging local and state authorities to take immediate action to investigate the cause of the flooding and implement effective mitigation measures to prevent future disasters.
OSHAssociation as an organisation dedicated to promoting Occupational Health and Safety is calling on the Nasarawa State Government, the Federal Ministry of Environment, and relevant disaster management agencies to conduct a thorough investigation into the root causes of the Kapda Bridge flooding. Potential factors may include inadequate drainage systems, insufficient bridge capacity, and the effects of climate change on regional rainfall patterns.
It is crucial that the authorities identify the underlying issues and implement comprehensive solutions to fortify the Kapda Bridge and the surrounding area against future flooding incidents. The safety and well-being of the local community must be the top priority.
OSHAssociation also urged the government to engage with the community and seek their input on the most effective strategies to address the problem. Collaboration with civil society groups, engineering experts, and disaster risk reduction specialists will be essential in developing a sustainable long-term plan.
The Kapda Bridge flooding is a stark reminder that we cannot afford to neglect the importance of infrastructure resilience and disaster preparedness. Relevant authorities should go into action to ensure that tragedies like this are prevented from reoccurrence.
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