Adelowo Oladipo
Residents of Rabba Community in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State have appealed to the state government for the immediate reconstruction of the collapsed bridge linking the community to Mokwa and adjoining communities.
The appeal came as the community marked exactly one year since the devastating Mokwa flood disaster of May 29, 2025, which destroyed the bridge, farmlands, and other critical infrastructure within the area.
In a peaceful solidarity march by youths and community stakeholders, residents reminded the Niger State government of the promise made by governor Mohammed Umaru Bago to reconstruct the bridge and rehabilitate the Rabba–Mokwa Road following the disaster.
The event also featured a special prayer session led by community elders, who prayed for the success of the Bago administration and appealed for swift intervention to restore the only major access route connecting the community to farms, markets, schools, healthcare facilities, and neighbouring settlements.
Speaking during the march and prayer session, several youths and elders lamented the hardship caused by the destruction of the bridge, noting that residents now face serious difficulties accessing their farmlands, social amenities, and nearby communities.
The community, while appreciating the governor’s previous financial support towards the maintenance of the temporary wooden bridge constructed through communal efforts, expressed concern over the repeated destruction of the makeshift structure, especially during heavy rainfall.
A community leader, Alhaji Usman Ndagba, called on the government to urgently provide a permanent solution to the challenge.
“We are appealing to the government to come to our aid by reconstructing a permanent concrete bridge that will restore and revive our social, political, and economic activities,” he said.
The residents maintained that the reconstruction of the bridge remains critical to improving transportation, agricultural activities, commerce, and overall living conditions within the affected communities.
