By Peter Omopo / Abakaliki, 16th August 2025
The Federal Government has approved ₦16.7 billion for the immediate reconstruction of a collapsed 10-span bridge in Niger State.
The approval was announced on Saturday in Abakaliki by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, 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.
Idris described the funding approval as a clear demonstration of President Bola Tinubu’s responsiveness to critical infrastructure emergencies.
“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 ₦16.7bn to reconstruct the bridge, a 10-span bridge,” Idris stated in a release by his media aide, Rabiu Ibrahim.
He praised the swift intervention of the Works Ministry, noting that Umahi immediately dispatched engineers to assess the damage 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.
Umahi, in his remarks, described President Tinubu as a compassionate and attentive leader committed to addressing 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.
The Works Minister also disclosed that the Niger bridge approval is part of a broader package of urgent interventions across the country. These include the reconstruction of the washed-away 5-span bridge in Wukari, Taraba State; the Lokoja Bridge; permanent repair 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 another in Kebbi State.
Umahi stressed that the approvals reflect the Tinubu administration’s balanced and inclusive national development strategy.
