Commuters along the Ilorin–Igbeti Federal Highway in Kwara State were left stranded on Monday as heavy flooding submerged the already collapsed Moro Bridge, with several vehicles trapped in the rising waters.
The incident occurred after an overnight downpour caused the Moro River to overflow its banks. Eyewitnesses reported desperate passengers climbing onto vehicle roofs while awaiting rescue.
The Moro Bridge, located between Oko-Olowo/Mandala in Ilorin West and Asa Local Government Areas, had collapsed on April 30 after a heavy-duty articulated truck passed over the aging structure.
The collapse had already severed a vital transport link connecting Kwara to Oyo State and routes toward the Benin Republic border.
Monday’s flooding worsened the crisis, as the temporary diversion promised by the state government remains incomplete.
Video footage from the scene showed partially submerged vehicles and commuters struggling to navigate the flooded area.
Residents and motorists expressed frustration over the slow pace of emergency works. A trader, Kafayat, highlighted the economic impact:
“This development has negatively affected economic activities, causing delays and increasing the cost of transportation for commuters and businesses.”
Some locals also questioned the prolonged abandonment of an alternative bridge project beside the collapsed structure.
Concerns are growing as the rainy season intensifies, with fears of more severe flooding in the peak months of July and August.
Following the April collapse, the Kwara State Government announced traffic diversions and pledged quick intervention.
The Commissioner for Works, Engr. Abdulquawiy Olododo, stated that the government was collaborating with federal authorities to mobilise engineers for palliative measures on alternative routes and to construct a new bridge nearby.
Despite these assurances, the latest flooding has heightened public anxiety over commuter safety and the urgency of permanent solutions for the colonial-era Bailey bridge, which has undergone repeated rehabilitations due to structural issues.
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