BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The Federal Government has approved the dualisation of 8.9-kilometre road connecting Bodo-Bonny to the East-West Road in the Niger Delta.
To be executed under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement, the project is expected to cost N150 billion.
Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi stated this when he received the new Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Adeleye Falade in Wednesday at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting centered on the completed Bodo-Bonny Road and the next phase of development that will link it to the East-West Road, an important route for movement of people and goods in the Niger Delta.
Umahi noted that President Tinubu approved the project, which will be constructed with concrete, alongside two flyovers, solar-powered streetlights, and modern monitoring systems.
He said: "We are working with Julius Berger since they are on site, it is more economical for us, for them to continue. With the information I’m having from PPP, I think the cost is about 150billion because it is a very terrible terrain, two flyovers and solar powered light, tree planting and also some rest house where we will stay and monitor the CCTV."
Umahi explained that part of the funds saved from the Bodo-Bonny Road project has already been redirected to improve the road with solar lights and tree planting.
The minister said that Tinubu's administration is focused on building durable roads that will last for decades, while also improving safety and boosting economic activities.
"I want to commend you very highly and I say that the President's infrastructure revolution in Nigeria is quite unprecedented. There is no part of this country that you don’t see solid work going on and we are not talking about just road construction, he is building a road that will last between 50-100 years with minimal maintenance and that is what he stands for.
"For the first time, you will see a road that is built with solar light so that people can travel at night, which will increase commercial activity and safety on the road," he added.
The NLNG boss, Adeleye Falade thanked the Federal Government for its support, especially on the Bodo-Bonny Road, which he said is already making life easier for residents and businesses.
"We want to take this privilege to express gratitude particularly on Bodo Bonny road. I want to thank you for the support. The road as we have communicated is completed now, we are actually waiting for when you will give us a date for official commissioning but we know people are already using it.
"The road changed a lot of things about the activities on the Island. I went on the road myself from my office in Port Harcourt. It took me one and a half hours from my office to Bonny that is something that will ordinarily take us four hours," he said.
He expressed readiness for continued collaboration on the new road project.
Falade said: "We are grateful for the support. We are also grateful for the consideration of that 8.9km that leads into the East west road that enables us to maximize that particular road."
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