The Federal Government has issued a new deadline for the completion of the long-awaited Bodo-Bonny Road project in Rivers State, setting September 2025 as the target date for its finalization.
The N280 billion project, which is being handled by construction giant Julius Berger, is expected to be a critical infrastructure boost for the region, connecting the oil-rich Bonny Island to the mainland and facilitating economic development.
The announcement came after President Bola Tinubu approved a revised contract sum for the road following upward adjustments requested by the contractor. This was revealed by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, during an inspection of federal road projects in Rivers State.
The review, according to Umahi, was necessary to ensure that the project could be completed within the new timeline, with Julius Berger emphasizing the importance of securing the necessary funds to proceed.
Speaking during the inspection, Umahi noted that the Federal Government had agreed to Julius Berger’s demands after a year of negotiations.
“We have given Julius Berger what they wanted in terms of the money they were looking for. We negotiated for one year, but Berger refused to shift ground. So, we had to allow them the total amount of money they requested,” Umahi explained. He further added, “We have given you the award letter. You now have to go and sign the addendum.”
The project is now set at a fixed contract sum of N280 billion, which Umahi indicated was a direct response to Julius Berger’s request. President Tinubu, through the Federal Executive Council, gave the final approval for the revised sum, expressing his strong commitment to the project’s timely completion.
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“Mr. President is very much interested in the early completion of this road,” Umahi stressed, highlighting the high-level oversight that has been placed on the project, including meetings involving the National Security Adviser and the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
The Bodo-Bonny Road is a highly strategic infrastructure project for both the state and the country. Once completed, the road will provide the first-ever land connection to Bonny Island, home to several oil and gas facilities, including the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) plant.
The road’s completion will not only improve access to this vital economic zone but will also significantly boost local communities by improving transportation, trade, and overall connectivity.
As part of the agreement to ensure the road is completed within the stipulated timeframe, the Minister has directed Julius Berger to remobilize and work from at least three locations simultaneously.
“We are giving a deadline of September 2025; that is the deadline that this job should be finished. So, I would like the directives I have given in terms of filling with sharp sand to design level, and movement across,” Umahi said, further directing the contractor to expedite work and ensure the quality of construction meets specified standards.
To ensure compliance with the agreed schedule, Umahi committed to conducting regular site inspections. “I will be here again by the end of October and finally, I’ll come in November to see that our agreement is working,” he stated. This continuous monitoring, he assured, would help keep the project on track and prevent delays.
Umahi also took the opportunity to commend Julius Berger for the work completed thus far, reassuring the people of Rivers State that the road, once completed, would have a life span of 50 to 100 years without requiring any significant maintenance or reconstruction.
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“This road is being built to last, and we guarantee that when it is finished, it will not need repairs or reconstruction for at least 50 to 100 years,” he said.
The road’s completion promises to be a transformative development for Rivers State, providing a lasting solution to transportation challenges that have long plagued the region.
The Bodo-Bonny Road has been a long-time ambition, and with this new deadline and the commitment from the Federal Government and the contractor, it seems the project is finally on course to be realized. As progress continues, the people of Rivers and the entire Niger Delta region look forward to the substantial economic and social benefits the road will bring.