President Bola Tinubu has approved the immediate release of N16.7bn for the reconstruction of the Mokwa Bridge in Niger State, months after it 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 initiatives across the South-East.

According to the minister, the funding approval demonstrates the Tinubu administration’s responsiveness to critical infrastructure emergencies.

“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 said, as contained in a statement signed by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim.

The statement noted that Idris emphasised the importance of the bridge 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.

“His response was immediate and decisive. This development is music to the ears of the government and people of Niger State,” Idris added.

In his remarks, Umahi described President Tinubu as a compassionate and attentive leader determined to address the infrastructure needs of Nigerians.

“The President approved the immediate reconstruction of the bridge as requested by the Honourable Minister. He graciously approved because of him,” Umahi 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.