President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the Federal Ministry of Works to immediately begin reconstruction of the Mokwa bridge in Niger State, which was washed away by a recent flood that has so far claimed over 200 lives.
The directive was disclosed on Tuesday by the Minister of State for Works, Malam Bello Goronyo, during a condolence visit to the flood-affected community. Goronyo, who led a delegation from the ministry, said the president had instructed that all necessary measures be taken to restore vehicular access between the northern and southern parts of the country.
“In his directives, the president said we should do everything possible to restore the access road for vehicular movement on the damaged bridge washed away by the flood,” Goronyo told the village head of Mokwa.
He noted that the route is crucial for articulated vehicles transporting goods across regions, adding that Niger State remains a key transit corridor due to its strategic location and dense federal road network.
During the visit, the village head of Mokwa, Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu (Ndalila of Mokwa), said over 200 houses were destroyed while four bridges, including the main highway and a rail bridge, collapsed in the disaster. He appealed for the resettlement of displaced persons and rebuilding of affected infrastructure.
Niger State Deputy Governor, Yakubu Garba, who accompanied the delegation, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for the show of concern and swift response from the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has dismissed claims that the flood was caused by the release or failure of dams in the region.
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, stated that both the Kainji and Jebba dams are “structurally sound and fully operational,” and had no role in the flooding.
“It is important to clarify that the flooding in Mokwa was not the result of any water release from the Kainji or Jebba dams. Both facilities are intact and pose no risk to surrounding communities,” Utsev said.
He attributed the disaster to intense rainfall linked to climate change, which overwhelmed the town’s drainage systems. He said the lack of effective alternative drainage channels worsened the situation.
The minister also referenced the 2025 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) issued by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) on April 10, which had identified Mokwa as one of 1,249 high-risk communities across 176 local government areas in 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The report also listed an additional 2,187 communities in 293 LGAs as moderate flood risk zones. States flagged include Niger, Kogi, Kebbi, Benue, Lagos, Oyo, Rivers, Zamfara, and 25 others.
Utsev called on state and local governments to improve drainage infrastructure, enforce land-use regulations, and relocate vulnerable populations. He encouraged stakeholders to consult NIHSA’s online flood forecast dashboard for real-time, location-specific risk updates.
He described the Mokwa incident as a warning of the increasing impact of climate change and reiterated the ministry’s commitment to climate-resilient infrastructure and sustainable water resource management.
According to him, technical teams from the ministry, NIHSA, the Upper Niger River Basin Development Authority (UNRBDA), and the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI) are currently in Mokwa conducting assessments to guide future interventions.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that over 200 people died in the May 29 disaster, with at least 500 still missing. The agency also reported 121 injuries and more than 3,000 displaced residents.
