Ovia River Bridge A Disaster Waiting To Happen, Oluku Fire Was Avoidable — Aiguobarueghian

Hon. Charity Iguodala Aiguobarueghian, member representing Ovia North East Constituency I in the Edo State House of Assembly, has raised the alarm over the deteriorating condition of the Ovia River Bridge, describing it as a disaster waiting to happen, while blaming poor road infrastructure and alleged federal government negligence for the fatal Oluku tanker fire incident.

Aiguobarueghian, who spoke on VOS TV’s Dawn Show, called on the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently replace the Ovia River Bridge, warning that its deteriorating condition, age and continued use by overloaded vehicles pose a serious threat to commuters and other road users.

According to him, the bridge was constructed in the early 1970s with a load capacity of 35 tonnes but is now being used by vehicles carrying more than 80 tonnes, despite having reportedly gone for over five decades without adequate repairs or maintenance.

“The Ovia River Bridge is a time bomb waiting to explode. It is a shame that a bridge built in the early 70s with a tonnage of 35 tons is now being used by vehicles carrying more than 80 tons, after more than 50 years without any repairs or maintenance,” he said.

He expressed concern that the structure had deteriorated to the point where its condition was visibly alarming, insisting that bridges require regular maintenance to remain safe and functional.

“If you go under that bridge, you will not allow your vehicle to pass it because of the dilapidation. The people that built that bridge knew it was not going to last forever. No man builds anything forever; it needs repairs,” he added.

The lawmaker said he had mobilised the media to draw attention to the bridge's condition and had repeatedly raised the matter, but his efforts had not received the desired response.

He attributed this partly to the limitations of his current position as a state legislator, arguing that election to the House of Representatives would give him a stronger platform to pursue federal intervention on behalf of the people of Ovia Federal Constituency.

Oluku Tanker Fire Was Preventable

On the Oluku tanker fire incident, Aiguobarueghian faulted what he described as the misplaced focus of public discussions, arguing that attention should be directed towards the infrastructure failures that allegedly contributed to the tragedy rather than concentrating solely on the actions of people who attempted to scoop fuel.

He questioned why the tanker was able to reach the location where it fell, pointing to the poor condition of a bypass that he said was no longer suitable for heavy-duty vehicles.

“On the Oluku incident, people were talking about, ‘Oh, people were scooping fuel; why were they scooping fuel?’ I said, let us stop shaving the channels, let us face the main issue, the big elephant in the room. Why did that tanker fall there in the first place?” he asked.

According to him, the bypass, which should have provided an alternative route for the tanker, had deteriorated so badly that even trailers could no longer navigate it safely.

“That tanker ought not to have gotten to Oluku. There is a bypass that the tanker was turning into. That bypass is completely bad. It is no longer passable. It is so destroyed that even trailers cannot pass it any longer. If that bypass was good, that tanker would not have fallen at Oluku,” he said.

He also criticised the condition of a ditch along the federal road in front of the Oluku market, questioning the role of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) in maintaining the road.

“Even in front of that market, the ditch there on the federal road — where is FERMA? If FERMA had filled that place, the ditch would not be that big as to overturn a truck,” he stated.

The lawmaker maintained that the incident highlighted the consequences of neglected road infrastructure and the need for relevant federal agencies to take preventive maintenance more seriously.

He explained that, as a state legislator, his role concerning federal roads was largely advisory, but said he would work directly with the House Committee on Works if elected to the House of Representatives to push for the rehabilitation of roads and other critical infrastructure in Ovia.

He further urged the Federal Ministry of Works, which he noted receives substantial annual budgetary allocations for infrastructure, to prioritise the replacement of the Ovia River Bridge before a major tragedy occurs.

Why I Am Seeking Election to the House of Representatives

Explaining his ambition to represent Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Aiguobarueghian said the area was richly endowed with natural resources, including timber, stone and quarry resources, but continued to suffer from poor road connectivity and inadequate federal interventions.

He lamented that the condition of roads leading to communities such as Iguobazuwa and Okada had undermined access, economic activities and the full exploitation of the constituency's economic potential.

“Ovia is the capital of natural resources — timber, stones, quarry, so many mineral resources domiciled in our federal constituency. What is the use? You cannot go to Iguobazuwa, you cannot go to Okada, the roads are blocked,” he said.

The lawmaker also cited awards he said he received in 2024 and 2025 as Nigeria’s Best Legislator in the state category, describing the consecutive recognitions as evidence of his performance and readiness to serve at a higher legislative level.

“In 2024, I won an award as the Best Legislator, State Category, in Nigeria. In 2025, I won the same award again consecutively. If I have won two awards consecutively as best legislator at state level, what am I still doing there? It is enough for me to be promoted to the higher level,” he said.

Using the example of a gifted child who receives double promotion in school, Aiguobarueghian argued that his record at the state legislature had prepared him for the responsibilities of federal representation.

He said his immediate ambition was not to contest for the Senate, but to represent Ovia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and provide the area with a stronger voice at the national level.

“In this case, I am not even asking for Senate, which I should have qualified for. I am only seeking to go and represent our people at the Ovia Federal level, so that Ovia voice will be properly heard at the national level,” he said.

‘Ovia Federal Constituency Is Underperforming’

Aiguobarueghian expressed dissatisfaction with what he described as the poor performance of the constituency's current federal representation, alleging that Ovia had not received adequate legislative attention, representation or constituency interventions.

“As at today, there is nothing showing that somebody is representing us at the federal level, both in legislation, representation or even constituency intervention. There is zero federal presence,” he claimed.

He described the situation as underwhelming, arguing that the constituency needed more effective representation capable of attracting federal projects, addressing infrastructure deficits and advancing the interests of its people.

“The seat of Ovia Federal Constituency is under-performing and underwhelming. The farm has been left to fallow and a good farmer has come to clear and plant it for the best reward of the people,” he added.

The lawmaker said his ambition was driven by the need to address longstanding infrastructure challenges, improve access to communities and ensure that Ovia's natural resources translated into tangible economic benefits for residents.

His comments have placed the condition of the Ovia River Bridge, the Oluku tanker fire incident and the broader question of federal representation at the centre of his campaign message ahead of the 2027 general elections.