The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, says work on the ongoing Bodo-Bonny Road will be completed in December 2023, stressing that the continued progress on the project could only have been done by Nigeria’s foremost engineering construction company, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.

According to a statement issued by the company on Monday, Fashola said this at the project inspection tour last week.

“This project is going to open up this community and will be completed in December next year, Buhari in office or not. There is no fear about that and about the funding and no fear about the ability and competence of Julius Berger to deliver on the project and in superb quality,” the minister stated.

Stressing that funding for the project comes from the Federal Government’s Tax Credit Scheme into which both the NLNG and other big companies like Dangote and NNPC are investing, the Fashola said: “We are in Bodo trying to connect to Bonny Island. Contrary to what some people may say, the N200 billion invested in this BBR project is nothing compared to its long-term significance.

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“This is my fourth time here. From the first time when I visited to really understand the project at hand, it was alarming that within one state, people could not connect with one another. They were being inhibited. But the Peace Committee set up for the project embraced all the communities in this project area. Thank God, they are all working together now.”

On his part,  the BBR Project Manager, Engr. Thomas Haug, reassured all stakeholders that work was progressing and would be delivered on the scheduled date.

“The scope of work for the Bodo-Bonny Road includes the constrcution of a 38km long road through the low-lying swampy area including three major bridges of 500m, 780m, and 1200m in length as well as 9mini bridges, a pipeline crossing bridge and multiple pipeline crossings and culverts,” Haug said.

He added that the Bodo-Bonny Road would not only serve as a connection between Bonny and the mainland but connect fishing settlements and villages to the road network which could only be reached by boat hitherto after completion.

“We are sure that this road will have a big impact on this region,” the project manager stressed.

Accompanied by the Regional Project Coordinator, Sam Ngbor, Haug led Fashola and his entourage to physically inspect the entire length of the project from Bodo to the fringes of Bonny where the last mini bridge across the Nanabie Creek is being constructed.

The Star