President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the immediate repair of the major bridge in Mokwa, Niger State, which was washed away by a devastating flood that claimed at least 158 lives on May 29.
The directive was revealed by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, during a condolence visit to the affected community on Tuesday. Goronyo, who led a delegation from the Federal Ministry of Works, said the President had instructed the ministry to restore the vital transportation link and ensure the resumption of vehicular movement between Nigeria’s northern and southern regions.
“In his directives, he said we should do everything possible to restore the access road for vehicular movement on the damaged bridge,” Goronyo told the village head of Mokwa.
“The President also emphasized the urgency of this intervention due to the high volume of articulated vehicles transporting goods across the country.”
The bridge is a critical component of the national road network, connecting the North to the South. Its collapse has disrupted movement and commercial activity in the region.
The minister also assured the community of the Federal Government’s continued commitment to enhancing road infrastructure, particularly in Niger State, given its strategic location and high concentration of federal highways.
In his remarks, the Ndalila of Mokwa, Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu, expressed appreciation for the government’s visit but painted a grim picture of the destruction. According to him, more than 200 houses and four bridges—including a rail bridge—were destroyed, with many residents still missing.
He called on the government to support the resettlement of displaced persons and to provide long-term solutions to mitigate future disasters.
Niger State Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba, who received the delegation, thanked President Tinubu for his swift response and show of concern, noting that the visit had brought some relief to the grieving community.
The disaster highlights the growing threat of climate-induced flooding in Nigeria and the urgent need for improved infrastructure resilience across flood-prone regions.
