President Bola Tinubu has issued a directive to the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently repair the critical bridge linking northern and southern Nigeria, which was destroyed by devastating floods in Mokwa, Niger State. The flood, which struck on May 29, resulted in the tragic loss of 158 lives and caused significant infrastructural damage.
The Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, revealed this during a condolence visit to Mokwa on Tuesday, where he led a ministry delegation to sympathize with the affected community. Goronyo conveyed the president’s instructions to the village head, emphasizing the urgency of restoring vehicular access.
“The President gave a clear directive for me to come and commiserate with the government and people of Niger state over the ugly incident,” Goronyo said. “In his directives, he said we should do everything possible to restore the access road for vehicular movement on the damaged bridge washed away by the flood. The president directed that we provide an access road for vehicular movement and create an access road due to the high volume of articulated vehicles carrying goods from the north to the south.”
The Ministry of Works intends to prioritize the reconstruction of the bridge and ensure alternative access routes to facilitate the heavy flow of commercial traffic between Nigeria’s northern and southern regions. Goronyo also highlighted Niger State’s strategic importance in the country’s federal road network and pledged continued infrastructure investments.
Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu, the village head of Mokwa, disclosed the extent of the destruction, stating that over 200 houses and four bridges—including the main and rail bridges—collapsed. Many residents remain missing, and he appealed for government assistance in resettling displaced persons.
Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his visit and the federal government’s concern, underscoring the importance of coordinated efforts to aid the flood victims.
