Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN has said that works on the Bodo-Bonny Road Project has reached a substantial level of completion and that it would be completed by December, 2023.
Inspecting the 37.9 km single carriageway with thirteen bridges on Wednesday, Fashola said it would boost the economic opportunities and activities of the region.
While assuring Nigerians on the new date of completion, he said funding has been made available to ensure its completion even when the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari expires.
According to Fashola the present administration of President Buhari has demonstrated commitment in infrastructure development in all the regions of Nigeria.
“It is instructive to point out that this very project is being executed by the Federal Government. I hear some people comment that the Federal Government is not doing anything in Rivers State. Bodo and Bonny are in Rivers State. This is a 200 Billion Naira investment in one state. The amount is not the issue but the short and long terms significance of the project is addressing the problem of poverty and how to lift people out of poverty.”
He said that the purpose of the inspection was to see the level of work done and to administer solutions to any identified problems so that the road and bridges would be open for use for Nigerians by December, 2023.
Addressing journalists after the inspection, he said, “There was urgent need to fast tract the completion of the road project pointing out that such infrastructure project would address both the monetary and multi- dimensional poverty of the people and the nation at large. “People are engaged at the sites, contractors, suppliers are busy working and making money. This place will be opened up in a way that it will be breath taking. It should be on record that the seed of ending poverty has been sown by President Buhari by this project.”
On his part, the Bodo Bonny Road and Bridges Project Peace Committee Chairman, Chief Osobonye Longjohn said that the project has connected Bodo -Bonny to Nigeria, stressing that it will bring prosperity to the land.
“I thank President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN for this project. Our hopes as a people is alive now because the project will create a lot of economic opportunities for our people. We are happy. As you have remembered us, we will remember this government led by the All Progressive Congress (APC),” he said.
Earlier, the Project Manager of Julius Berger Plc, Thomas Haug said that the project has progressed tremendously and would be completed by December, 2023 pointing out that funding would not be a challenge.
He said that the firm has completed major engineering works under water surface, adding that about thirteen bridges both minor and major ones have been completed.
