President Bola Ahmed 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 this year.

The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed 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 demonstrates the Tinubu administration’s commitment to addressing urgent infrastructure challenges.

“We want to thank Mr President and 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 ₦16.7 billion to reconstruct the bridge — a 10-span bridge,” he said.

The minister also praised Umahi for his quick response in the aftermath of the disaster, noting that experts were dispatched to assess the extent of the damage soon after the bridge was washed away.

Idris added that the development would be “music to the ears of the government and people of Niger State.”

In his remarks, Umahi described Tinubu as a compassionate and listening leader who is committed to easing the difficulties faced by Nigerians.

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

Umahi further noted that the latest approvals for infrastructure projects extend to all six geo-political zones of the country.

He listed some of them to include the reconstruction of the washed-away five-span bridge in Wukari, Taraba State; the Lokoja Bridge; permanent repairs of the Afikpo road linking Ebonyi, 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.