President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate release of N16.7 billion for the reconstruction of the Mokwa Bridge in Niger State, which was washed away by flooding in May.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced the approval on Saturday in Abakaliki after a meeting with the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi. Idris is currently leading a federal delegation on a three-day tour of infrastructure projects and citizen engagement programmes across the South-East.
Idris said the decision underscored the administration’s responsiveness to urgent infrastructure needs. He added that the Mokwa Bridge, a 10-span bridge, is vital for regional connectivity. “We want to thank Mr. President, and we want to thank the Honourable Minister of Works. We jointly discussed this and approached Mr. President, who graciously approved it. It means a lot to the people. It’s N16.7bn to reconstruct the bridge, a 10-span bridge,” Idris stated in a release signed by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim.
The minister commended the Works Ministry for its swift response following the disaster, noting that Umahi had immediately dispatched experts to assess the damage after the bridge was destroyed.
Umahi confirmed that the President acted promptly on the recommendation of his ministry. “The President approved the immediate reconstruction of the bridge as requested by the Honourable Minister. He graciously approved because of him,” he said.
The Works Minister also disclosed that several other critical infrastructure projects have recently received presidential approval. These include the reconstruction of a five-span bridge in Wukari, Taraba State; the Lokoja Bridge; permanent repair of the washed-away section of the Afikpo road linking Ebonyi to Abia and Imo States; the Keffi Flyover Bridge; the Jebba Bridge in Kwara State; seven bridges in Edo State; and a bridge in Kebbi State.
Umahi described the projects as part of a balanced and inclusive national development strategy aimed at strengthening connectivity across the country.
