President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate release of N16.7bn for the reconstruction of the Mokwa Bridge in Niger State.
This is flowing a heavy Flood that hir the state and washed the bridge away few months ago, 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.
On Thursday, Idris led a federal delegation on a three-day tour of infrastructure projects and citizen engagement initiatives in Ebonyi state and Enugu state, which is currently ongoing.
Speaking during the tour, according to a statement signed by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, Idris noted that the funding approval demonstrates the responsiveness of Tinubu’s administration to critical infrastructure emergencies.
He said; “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.
According to the statement, Idris emphasized that bridge is important for regional connectivity.
He also praised the swift response of the Ministry of Works following the disaster whom he said immediately dispatched experts to assess the damage shortly after the bridge was washed away.
In his remarks, Umahi described President Tinubu as a compassionate and attentive leader determined to address the infrastructure needs of Nigerians.
He noted that the President approved the immediate reconstruction of the bridge as requested by the Honourable Minister. “He graciously approved because of him,” he said.
Umahi further highlighted other recent infrastructure approvals spanning multiple regions, signalling what he described as a balanced and inclusive national development strategy.
These include the reconstruction of the washed-away 5-span bridge in Wukari, Taraba State; the Lokoja Bridge; permanent repair of the washed-away section of the Afikpo road connecting 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.
