President Bola Tinubu in his Renewed Hope Agenda has inaugurated the temporary use of the 37.9km Bodo-Bonny Road, ending many decades of travails caused by river transport and costly helicopter service for residents of the historic Bonny Kingdom and Ogoni communities.
The multi-billion naira project, awarded and abandoned on December 11, 2014, but later revived on October 20, 2017, by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, was inaugurated after it reached 90.98 per cent completion.
Speaking through the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, during the colourful ceremony at Bodo and Bonny axis of the road, President Tinubu described the infrastructure as a flagship achievement of his Renewed Hope Agenda.
He said, “The dream of the Bonny Kingdom has come true; the dream of the Bodo Kingdom has come true. No more risky journeys through the busy Bonny River, no more expensive helicopters, no more untold hardships to reach this blessed island.”
“For now, the road is open only for light vehicles from 7am to 7pm daily. Heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles and tricycles are barred until final completion targeted for March 2026.”
Tinubu applauded the efforts of Julius Berger especially the Project Manager, who he said ensured that no obstacle stood in the way of the project.
“I have made a commendation to Julius Berger especially Engineer Tim, I think if Engineer Tim was the Managing Director of Julius Berger we wouldn’t have had all the fights we had in so many places”, he said.
He urged Rivers State Government to provide 20 plots of land each at the Bodo and Bonny ends for the construction of trailer parks.
He warned that indiscriminate parking by trucks would not be acceptable as it would accelerate the road’s deterioration.
The Senate Committee on Works Chairman, Senator Barinada Mpigi poured encomiums on President Tinubu love for Ogoni people and pledged continued support for the administration.
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, thanked President Tinubu for rescuing the project from abandonment and pleaded for more federal interventions.
He said, “This is the temporary opening of the Bonny-Bodo Road but Mr President it is a permanent joy for the people of Bonny, Bodo and Rivers State. Like Oliver Twist, we will ask for more.”
Julius Berger’s Project Manager, Mr. Tim Nippert, confirmed 35km of the dual carriageway were fully motorable, assuring delivery of the remaining sections in the first quarter of 2026.
The Bodo-Bonny Road with 11 bridges, is the first federal road linking the mainland directly to Bonny Island, home to Nigeria LNG and other multi-billion dollar oil and gas investments.
–TheNation
