By DESMOND EJIBAS

President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, inaugurated the 37.9km Bodo-Bonny Road project, which was awarded in December 2014.

Represented by the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, Tinubu inaugurated the project during a colourful ceremony along the Bodo-Bonny stretch of the road.

He described the project as a flagship achievement of his administration, saying that the road is being opened after attaining 90.98 per cent completion.

The president said that although the road project was awarded in 2014, the contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC commenced work on Oct. 20, 2017.

“The opening of the Bodo-Bonny Road is a dream come true for the people of the two Kingdoms.

“With this opening, there will no longer be risky journeys across the busy Bonny Sea, expensive helicopter transportation, and untold hardship to reach this blessed Island,” he said.

Tinubu stated that the road would be temporarily open only to small vehicles between 7.00 a.m and 7.00 p.m daily.

“Heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles and tricycles are barred until the final completion of the road in March 2026,” he said.

Tinubu urged the Rivers Government to provide 20 plots of land each at the Bodo and Bonny ends of the road for the construction of truck parks.

“This will address the challenge of indiscriminate parking by trucks, which can cause the road to deteriorate,” he said.

Sen. Barinada Mpigi, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, commended Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare of Ogoni people.

Mpigi, representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, said that Tinubu’s administration had taken keen interest in the development and growth of Rivers.

Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, thanked Tinubu for continuing the project after several years of abandonment.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, Fubara called for more federal projects in the state.

“Although the road has been temporarily opened, this project remains a permanent source of joy to Rivers people.

Julius Berger’s Project Manager, Mr Tim Nippert, said that about 35km of the dual carriageway were fully motorable, and assured that it would be fully completed within the first half of 2026.

Nippert said that the project which has 11 bridges, linked the mainland directly to Bonny Island. (NAN)

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