The federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has signed a tripartite agreement with the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc (JBN) to build the Bodo-Bonny Road with bridges across the Opobo Channel routes in Rivers State.
The Minister of Power, Works & Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola on behalf of Government, signed the over 120 billion naira project awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc (JBN) at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.
Fashola stated that the Bodo-Bonny Bridge is a major infrastructural project that linked Nigeria to where so much resources are produced, adding that the signing of the tripartite agreement signifies the commencement of construction work and government’s commitment to clean up, build up and repositioned the Niger Delta as a major contributor to nation’s resources.
Earlier in his remarks, the Managing Director of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, Mr Tony Attah thanked the Federal Government and the Minister for the signing of the agreement and the opportunity for the part-funding of the construction of the Bodo-Bonny Road project.
Attah stated that the road will no doubt expand the scope of economic opportunities and secure livelihoods for the rural and riverine communities. He added that the construction of Bodo-Bonny road will invariably usher the accomplishment of long held dream of connecting Bonny Island to the rest of Nigeria.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Wolfgand Goetsch commended the Federal Government and Nigeria LNG for the trust and confidence reposed on the company, assuring that the project will be completed within the time stipulated and in accordance to specification.
The project which was first awarded in 1993, suffered series of delays and abandonments. The Ministry thereafter terminated the contract due to the dismal performance of the contractor and re-awarded the project to JBN which has proven experience in handling projects in difficult terrains of mangrove/swamp forest and creeks.
The expected date of completion of Bodo-Bonny project is in 2019.
