Vehicular movement has been severely disrupted along the Ilorin–Igbeti Federal Highway in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State following the collapse of the Moro Bridge, cutting off a key transport corridor and stranding commuters.
The bridge reportedly caved in around 5 a.m. on Thursday after a heavy-duty truck passed over it, according to eyewitness accounts. The incident has since caused gridlock and forced motorists to seek alternative, often longer, routes.
Road users and residents described the development as a major setback to economic activities in the area.
“This development has negatively affected economic activities, causing delays and increasing the cost of transportation for commuters and businesses,” a trader, Kafayat, told reporters.
The Moro Bridge, located along the busy Ilorin–Igbeti highway linking parts of Kwara to Oyo State, serves as a critical route for the movement of goods and passengers.
Reacting to the incident, the Kwara State Government announced immediate measures to ease the disruption. In a statement issued by the Ministry of Works, the Commissioner for Works, Abdulquawiy Olododo, confirmed that traffic diversion had commenced.
“The Kwara State Government is working with federal authorities to immediately divert traffic following the collapse of the Moro Bridge overnight,” Olododo said.
“The collapse occurred in the early hours of today after a heavy-duty truck passed over the bridge, resulting in a major disruption along the route.”
He added that engineers had been deployed to mitigate the impact on commuters.
“Engineers have been mobilised to begin palliative work on diversion routes to reduce the hardship being experienced by road users,” he stated.
Olododo also disclosed that construction of a new bridge near the failed structure was already underway, with federal authorities providing assurances on the project.
“We appeal to motorists to exercise patience and cooperate with traffic managers as efforts are intensified to restore normalcy,” he added.
The colonial-era Bailey bridge has long been considered a fragile but vital crossing point, connecting Kwara’s northern district to neighbouring Oyo State and routes leading toward the Benin Republic. It has undergone several repairs over the years due to recurring structural challenges.