Bala Yusuf, a 2-year-old son of Yusuf and his pregnant mother Aisha, alongside six others, including a 40-year-old mother, Barau’tu Bala, were among the travellers that perished during a boat mishap in the collapsed Namnai Bridge recently.
Namnai Bridge along Jalingo-Wukari federal high way, is located in Gasol Local Government Area of Taraba State. It collapsed on November 11, 2024. The bridge links the northern part of Nigeria to the southern region and serves as economic life wire of the state.
The Namnai bridge has consumed so many other lives and property since the collapse; it also affected economic activities, such as farming, and social activities.
Uba Maigeri, minister of state for regional development, had on Friday, February 13, 2026 finally came to the rescue of the people who ply the road when he led a team of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) to the state.
The minister’s visit in Taraba State with the NEDC was in continuation of the commission’s ongoing commissioning, inspection and handover of completed intervention projects to state governments across the six states of the North-East region.
Although the missing 2-year-old Bala Yusuf and his 6 months pregnant mother was yet to be found for proper burial up to the time of the reconstruction of the bridge.
Maigeri, while speaking at the site of the bridge alongside the team of the NEDC, said the project and other projects constructed in the nooks and crannies of Taraba State aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that his goal is to ensure timely delivery of critical infrastructure across the region.
He expressed satisfaction that work had finally commenced on the collapsed Namnai Bridge and assured travellers of timely completion of the bridge to ease sufferings on the road.
“The construction includes 9 spans of 180m Namnai Bridge at 43+500 Wukari-Jalingo road. The capacity is 9 spans, 20 meters each (180m) with 2-kilometre approach road,” he said.
Maigeri further disclosed that the visit was part of NEDC’s commitment to strengthening development partnerships with state governments and ensuring the timely delivery of impactful projects that improve livelihoods and accelerate sustainable growth across the region.
On his part, Mohammed Goni Alkali, NEDC managing director, described the intervention as necessary, aimed to alleviate the hardship caused by the collapse of the bridge and to revive economic activities in the region.
He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to accelerating development projects in the North-East region.
While in the state, NEDC commissioned multi-billions projects, notable among them include 60-bed capacity male and female ward which is renovated and equipped, 2-bedroom staff quarters, fencing of staff quarters, boreholes and solar street lights all at General Hospital Zing.
A well-equipped Institute of Entrepreneurship building at Taraba State University Jalingo, Offices and a conference hall were also commissioned.
NEDC inspected the ongoing construction of 8 spans – 160m River Bantaje Bridge along Wukari-Donga Road in Bantaje. Establishment of ICT Centre in Federal University Wukari, Graphic design classroom with 50 computers, Phone repair classroom with kits.
The NEDC also commissioned construction of Box-Culvert along Suntai-Donga Road.
