Vehicular movement was severely disrupted on Thursday along the Ilorin–Igbeti Federal Highway in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State after the Moro Bridge collapsed, prompting a swift response from the state government.
The bridge reportedly gave way around 5 a.m. under the weight of a heavy-duty truck, cutting off a key transport route and leaving commuters stranded.
Motorists and other road users described the incident as a major setback, saying it disrupted commercial activities, delayed the movement of goods and services, and increased transportation costs.
A businesswoman, Kafayat, said the collapse had worsened economic conditions for commuters and traders.
“This development has negatively affected economic activities, causing delays and increasing the cost of transportation for commuters and businesses,” she said.
In a statement issued through the Ministry of Works, Commissioner Abdulquawiy Olododo announced immediate traffic diversion to ease congestion.
He urged motorists to exercise caution while using alternative routes and to cooperate with traffic managers.
“The Kwara State Government is working with federal authorities to immediately divert traffic following the collapse of the Moro Bridge overnight,” Olododo said.
He said engineers had been deployed to begin palliative work on diversion routes to reduce hardship for road users.
Olododo added that the government had received assurances that construction of a new bridge was ongoing a few metres from the collapsed structure.
Traffic officials have also been directed to work with transport unions to ensure orderly movement in the area, he said, while appealing for public patience.
The Moro Bridge, a colonial-era Bailey structure along the Ilorin–Igbeti Federal Highway between Oko-Olowo/Mandala in Ilorin West and Asa Local Government Area, is a key link between Kwara and Oyo states and routes toward the Benin Republic border. It has undergone repeated rehabilitation due to recurring structural issues.
