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, 2025.

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 underscores the administration’s responsiveness to urgent infrastructure needs.

“We want to thank Mr. President, and we want to thank the Minister of Works. We jointly discussed this and approached Mr. President, who graciously approved it. It means a lot to the people. It’s ₦16.7 billion to reconstruct the bridge — a 10-span bridge,” he was quoted as saying in a statement by his Special Assistant (Media), Rabiu Ibrahim, on Saturday.

Idris also commended 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.

According to him, the approval for the bridge reconstruction will be “music to the ears of the government and people of Niger State”.

Umahi described President Tinubu as a compassionate and listening leader who was committed to solving the challenges confronting the citizens.

“The President approved the immediate reconstruction of the bridge as requested by the minister. He graciously approved because of him,” he said.