Tinubu approves ₦16.7bn for urgent reconstruction of Mokwa bridge
Story by Jessica Mbamah
President Bola Tinubu has approved the release of ₦16.7 billion for the immediate reconstruction of the Mokwa Bridge in Niger State, which was destroyed by flooding in May.
No fewer than 200 persons were killed while hundreds of others were displaced after floods swept through communities in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State. Many people were also reported missing.
In a statement signed by Media Special Assistant to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Rabiu Ibrahim, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced this in Abakaliki on Saturday after a meeting with the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi.
Idris, who is leading a Federal Government delegation on a three-day tour of projects and citizen engagements in the South-East, said the approval underscored the administration’s responsiveness to urgent infrastructure needs.
“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 N16.7 billion to reconstruct the bridge — a 10-span bridge,” he stated.
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He commended Senator Umahi for his swift response in the wake of the disaster, including dispatching experts to assess the damage shortly after the bridge was washed away.
He said the approval for the bridge reconstruction would be “music to the ears of the government and people of Niger State.”
In his remarks, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, said President Tinubu was a compassionate and listening leader and committed to solving the challenges confronting the citizens.
“The President approved the immediate reconstruction of the bridge as requested by the Honourable Minister. He graciously approved because of him,” he said.
Umahi said the latest round of approvals for provision of infrastructure cuts across all the geo-political zones of the country.
He listed some of the approvals to include: the reconstruction of the washed-away 5-span bridge in Wukari, Taraba State; the Lokoja Bridge; the permanent repair of the washed-away section of the Afikpo in Ebonyi to Abia and Imo State; the Keffi Flyover Bridge; the Jebba Bridge in Kwara State; seven bridges in Edo State; and a bridge in Kebbi State.
READ ALSO: Taraba gov’t donates ₦50 million to Mokwa flood victims
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