The Senate, on Wednesday, resolved to summon the Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, to brief its Committee on Works over the plans of action on reconstruction of Bailey bridges across the nation.

The resolution followed a motion moved by Senator Gilbert Nnaji, recalling that the recent collapse of the Bailey Bridge across Ebonyi River of Enugu State on November 6, 2015. During the deliberation, other senators in the chamber also frowned at the deplorable state of many bridges in other parts of the country, which need to be fixed by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

“The commuters, motorists and other road users in areas where Bailey bridges collapse pass through serious pains and frustration. The attendant loss of lives, livelihoods and other forms of economic deprivation and losses are avoidable if proactive steps were taken to maintain such bridges,” Nnaji stated.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, while ruling on the motion revealed how important it is for the various levels of government to attend to such serious national issues. He therefore advised against abandoning such tasks for the Federal Government and ignoring the role of states and local governments where such bridges are located.

However, the plenary – which was presided over by Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu – witnessed a twist as some All Progressives Congress (APC) members walked out during the session. Senate President, Bukola Saraki, had attended the final burial ceremony of late HID Awolowo, at Ikenne, Ogun State.

Ekweremadu has presided over plenary session for the second time, since the 8th Senate emerged.

•Photo shows the Senate in session.