Visionary Reports

Following rumours about vibrations on the Dibamba Bridge in the Wouri Division of the Littoral Region, Littoral governor Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua has reassured the public that there is no cause for alarm. He said Immediate work will be carried out to return the bridge to normal. The governor said the vibrations are not a threat but that it was prudent to inspect the situation and prevent any potential problems. He was speaking on Friday, 13 February 2026, during a visit to the bridge to assess the situation.The governor added that competent officials from the relevant ministries were present to conduct a technical evaluation.While visiting the bridge, the governor was joined by a ministerial team and engineers and representatives from the contracted construction company to evaluate damage and determine next steps.Findings from the Inspection found that the vibrations were within normal limits for a bridge in service. According to the civil engineer and Director General of LABOGENIE Moufo Jean ,during a bridge’s life-cycle, load testing and vibration monitoring measures how various elements move under traffic, in this case the motion observed was of very small amplitude. He explained that the bridge decks are statically independent, meaning each deck can move slightly relative to the other.

Expansion joints are installed to absorb such movements when vehicles, especially heavy trucks brake or pass.However, the inspection revealed localized wear and damage requiring intervention: Expansion joints have reached the end of their service life in some places and need replacement. Some sections show deterioration of the bearings, elastic elements that rest between the superstructure and the concrete supports and these bearings must be replaced. Surface defects and gaps in the deck will be repaired to prevent worsening under heavy traffic.Governor Samuel Dieudonné Ivaha Diboua emphasized that the identified problems are repairable and do not pose an immediate danger. “This is not the kind of shake where you would say the bridge is going to fall. Dimbaba bridge is not falling down” he said. He further expanciated that cracks and separations observed were generally limited on the order of five to six centimeters in spots over a roughly 160-meter span. These are considered manageable within routine maintenance and component replacement procedures.The Ministry’s sectoral teams are coordinating with the engineering experts and the contractor to schedule the necessary works quickly. The governor stressed that these are not large-scale reconstruction works but targeted replacements of wear-prone components such as joints and bearings. The repairs will be prioritized to limit disruption to traffic and to ensure the long-term safety and functionality of the bridge.The governor used the opportunity to thank citizens who reported the problem, noting that prevention is better than cure. He urged the public not to panic and assured commuters that trucks continue to cross the bridge safely during the inspection period. While some vibration is inevitable whenever vehicles pass over any bridge, the governor reiterated that the Dibamba Bridge is secured and that the planned maintenance will reduce future risks.

By Gina ESONG