Written By Aminu Dalhatu; Edited By Godwin Duru
Residents of Gwalli community and neighbouring villages in Gummi Local Government Area of Zamfara State have called on the state government to urgently repair the collapsed Gwalli Bridge, linking several rural communities and facilitating movements.
The residents who made the appeal while speaking with our correspondent in Gusau, expressed frustration over what they described as prolonged neglect of the bridge despite government assurances last year to reconstruct it.
The Gwalli Bridge, located in Gummi Local Government Area, serves as a major corridor connecting more than twenty villages.
However, the structure has remained in a dilapidated condition for several years, posing serious risks to commuters and disrupting socio-economic activities in the area.
In September 2025, tragedy struck when a vehicle conveying wedding guests plunged into the river while attempting to cross the damaged bridge, leading to the death men, women, and children.
A community member, Malam Lawali S. Gwalli, described the bridge as a lifeline for the people, nothing that its collapse has severely hindered transportation, making it difficult for residents to access markets, farms, healthcare and other essential services.
He appealed directly to Governor Dauda Lawal to urgently approve the rehabilitation of the bridge, explaining that it has been in a collapsed state for about eight years.
According to him, the bridge was originally constructed during the administration of former Governor Abdulaziz Yari Abubakar.
Malam Lawali further recalled that following the fatal incident, the state Deputy Governor, Mani Malam Mummuni, visited the area to sympathize with the affected communities and assured them that the government would reconstruct the bridge to prevent future tragedies.
He added that, an engineer later visited the site to conduct assessments and measurements, raising hopes among residents which has been dashed.
Another resident, Malam Bala Mohammed, said the community had made temporary efforts to ease movement by filling bags with sand and placing them in the river to create a makeshift crossing.
He noted that the poor state of the bridge has led to significant economic challenges, particularly affecting the movement of goods and services.
Similarly, other residents, including Malam Lawal Gwalli, Malam Mohammed Na Malam, and Malam Haruna, emphasized that the importance of the bridge to the people of Gummi and surrounding villages cannot be overstated.
They warned that continued delay in reconstructing the bridge could result in further loss of lives and deepen the hardship faced by rural dwellers who rely heavily on the route for their daily activities.
