The Kwara State Government has officially debunked viral claims that it spent ₦1.2 billion on the Moro Bridge, a strategic federal asset linking Kwara and Oyo States.
The clarification, issued on Monday, May 4, 2026, follows the bridge’s sudden collapse last week, which has paralyzed a major commercial corridor and triggered heated online debate regarding infrastructure spending.
The “₦1.2 Billion” Fact-Check
In a statement signed by the Press Secretary of the Ministry of Works, Olajide Abolarin, the government addressed a viral video by a commentator known as “Ajibare Talks,” which alleged the massive expenditure.
- The Actual Cost: The ministry revealed that the last palliative intervention on the bridge actually cost ₦27 million, not ₦1.2 billion.
- A “Campaign of Calumny”: The government described the ₦1.2 billion figure as a “malicious campaign of calumny” targeted at the Commissioner for Works, Abdulquawiy Olododo, and the current administration.
- Federal Asset: The ministry reiterated that since the bridge is a federal facility, any major reconstruction is the responsibility of the Federal Government, though the state intervenes with minor repairs to ensure the safety of its citizens.
Crisis on the Ilorin-Igbeti Highway
The bridge, a colonial-era Bailey structure, gave way around 5:00 AM on Thursday, April 30, 2026, when a heavy-duty truck exceeding the weight limit attempted to cross.
- Casualties: The collapse reportedly left several commuters injured, with victims rushed to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH).
- Logistical Nightmare: The incident has severed a vital link for agricultural goods moving from the Oke-Ogun region of Oyo State to Ilorin, causing transportation costs to skyrocket overnight.
The Current Solution
While the old bridge remains impassable, the state government has mobilized to reduce the hardship:
- Alternative Routes: Engineers have been deployed to create and maintain diversions to keep traffic flowing between the two states.
- New Bridge Status: The state government confirmed that work is “progressing steadily” on a new Moro Bridge being constructed by the Federal Government just a few meters away from the collapsed site.
