The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has directed that the Bodo‑Bonny Road in Rivers State be opened to users by the end of November, with full completion and commissioning slated for December. He issued the directive during an inspection tour of federal road projects in the South‑South and South‑East regions, where he reviewed the progress of the 37.9‑kilometre Bodo‑Bonny Road project being undertaken by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. The project, which began on 20 October 2017, has undergone several cost revisions: the original contract sum of ₦120 billion was increased to ₦199 billion and later to ₦280 billion after President Bola Tinubu approved the additional funding to ensure its completion. Umahi noted that the cost works out to about ₦7.4 billion per kilometre, a figure he deemed reasonable given the terrain and the quality of work.
The minister instructed that all barricades be removed by the end of November to allow partial traffic flow, while monitoring will continue until the final asphalt surfacing is finished early next year. He also announced plans to install solar‑powered streetlights, CCTV cameras and trees along the embankments, stating that these enhancements will be financed from the project’s contingency funds without extra cost to the government.
During the same tour, Umahi inspected the Eleme‑Onne section of the East‑West Road and expressed satisfaction with the work carried out by Reynolds Construction Company (RCC). The project has been redesigned from asphalt to reinforced concrete pavement to accommodate heavy industrial traffic. The minister ordered the installation of solar lights and CCTVs at 30‑metre intervals and called for the construction of truck parks to prevent heavy vehicles from damaging the new road.
Umahi warned against the misuse of public infrastructure, urging citizens to take ownership of government projects. He assured contractors that funding for all NNPC‑sponsored road projects—including those in Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta States—will continue without interruption. Concluding his remarks, he reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to completing key infrastructure across Nigeria, stating that the Bodo‑Bonny and Eleme road projects demonstrate the administration’s resolve to transform the nation’s transport network.
The completion of the Bodo‑Bonny Road and the Eleme‑Onne section of the East‑West Road is expected to significantly improve transportation in the region, boost economic activity and enhance residents’ quality of life. With the minister’s directive and the contractors’ commitment to meeting the deadline, the projects are on track to be finished as scheduled, marking a major milestone in the administration’s infrastructure development agenda.
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