Federal Govt Earmarks N150bn For 8.9km Bonny-Bodo Link Road Construction

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said the construction of an 8.9-kilometre dualised road connecting Bodo-Bonny to the East-West Road would cost N150 billion.

He disclosed this on Wednesday when he received the new managing director and chief executive officer of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, Adeleye Falade, in Abuja.

Umahi, in a statement by his senior special assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, said the meeting focused on the completed Bodo-Bonny Road and the next phase of development linking it to the East-West Road, an important route for the movement of people and goods in the Niger Delta.

The minister revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the dualisation of the 8.9-kilometre road connecting Bodo-Bonny to the East-West Road.

He said the project will be constructed with concrete and will include two flyovers, solar-powered streetlights, and modern monitoring systems.

He said, “I have listed that project for the president, he will tell me when he is ready for the commissioning, and I will let you know, and graciously he has also approved the 8.9km dualised, and this time on concrete with two flyovers. We have been working with Julius Berger since they are on site, so it is more economical for us to have them continue. With the information I’m having from PPP, I think the cost is about 150billion because it is a very terrible terrain, two flyovers and solar powered light, tree planting and also some rest house where we will stay and monitor the CCTV.”

Umahi explained that part of the funds saved from the Bodo-Bonny Road project has already been redirected to improve the road with solar lights and tree planting.

“We made some savings from the Bodo-Bonny, and we directed them to use these savings to put solar lights and then plant trees within that axis. So, I want to assure you that we work very closely with you and we are not going to be on that project for more than twelve months, and the price will not be reviewed. So make it very clear in our agreement with you and us and them,” he added

The Minister said the Tinubu administration is focused on building durable roads that will last for decades, while also improving safety and boosting economic activities.

“I want to commend you very highly, and I say that the president’s infrastructure revolution in Nigeria is quite unprecedented. There is no part of this country where you don’t see solid work being done, and we are not talking just about road construction. He is building a road that will last between 50-100years with minimal maintenance, and that is what he stands for. For the first time, you see that a road has been built, and it has solar lights. So that people can travel at night and it will increase commercial activity and also safety on the road. He has also directed to start mapping out our plan to put CCTV on our roads and have viewing points so that responding to them at every point in time will not be more than 10 minutes.”

In his remarks, the NLNG boss, Adeleye Falade, thanked the Federal Government for its support, especially on the Bodo-Bonny Road, which he said is already making life easier for residents and businesses.

“Just like Abdul said, it is a courtesy visit, but it is more than courtesy; we want to take this privilege to express gratitude, particularly on Bodo Bonny road. I want to thank you for the support. The road, as we have communicated, is completed now. We are waiting for you to give us a date for official commissioning, but we know people are already using it. The road changed many aspects of the activities on the Island. I went on the road myself from my office in Port Harcourt. It took me one and a half hours from my office to Bonny, which is something that will ordinarily take us four hours.”

He also expressed readiness for continued collaboration on the new road project.

“We are grateful for the support. We are also grateful for the consideration of the 8.9km that leads into the East-West road, which enables us to maximise that particular road. We are still waiting for advice on who is going to handle that going forward. We are ready to provide support as well. So, today we have come to show gratitude for the support that we have gotten from you.”