President Bola Tinubu has with immediate effect directed the release of N16.7bn for the reconstruction of the Mokwa Bridge in Niger State, after it was washed away by torrential flood in May this year, cutting off the community. The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated this on Saturday morning in Abakaliki as he is currently leading a federal delegation on a three-day tour of infrastructure projects and citizen engagement initiatives across the South-East in company of the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi.
According to the minister, the funding is in line with President Tinubu's Renewed Hope Agenda of delivering infrastructure to all parts of the country.
As contained in a statement made available by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim, the minister 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.”
Idriss explained that the said bridge is critical for regional connectivity and praised the swift response of the Ministry of Works following the disaster. He also commended Umahi for immediately dispatching experts to assess the damage shortly after the bridge was washed away.
The statement added, “His response was immediate and decisive. This development is music to the ears of the government and people of Niger State.”
In his remarks, the minister of works described President Tinubu as a compassionate leader determined to fix all infrastructure deficits across the country.
Umahi said, “The President approved the immediate reconstruction of the bridge as requested by the Honourable Minister. He graciously approved because of him.”
The Minister further highlighted other approved infrastructure capturing across regions in the country, applauding it as a balanced and inclusive national development strategy by the administration.
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, he concluded.