Julius Berger, Nigeria’s leading engineering construction company, has completed and delivered the 37.9-kilometre Bodo-Bonny Road project in Rivers State at the total cost of N280 billion.
According to the project manager, Tim Nippert, the project is completed. He said the few staff currently on site are engaged in tree planting and streetlight foundations, as well as pole installations, especially, around Kilometre 12 roundabout.
He said that some joints on the Road bridges are being completed, as they needed to be done this late because of some missing import materials. “We will do it within the next two weeks. Then we are done with these works”.
Nippert said, despite the difficult terrain and natural challenges encountered during the project, Julius Berger completed the work within the approved budget and generated savings, which are currently being used to fund additional features such as street lighting and beautification works, which are expected to be completed in about two weeks.
“From the contract sum, we made some savings and the ministry awarded us to provide streetlights and do some beautification like tree planting. We are now equipping the entire project with additional streetlights with budgets we have saved”.
The minister of works, David Umahi had directed that the Bodo-Bonny Road be opened to users by the end of November 2025, with full completion and commissioning scheduled further ahead.
The 39.7 km road project, which is the first land fall in Bonny Island, linking the island with the rest of Rivers, began in October, 2017. It underwent several cost reviews.
Jasper Jumbo, chairman, planning committee of the project award ceremony, said Nigeria has remembered the riverine communities after a tortuous 38 years of the project.
“It connects coastal communities to the mainland, reduces insecurity, and opens doors for prosperity across the Niger Delta,” he added.
Umahi said the cost translates to about N7.4 billion per kilometre, which he described as reasonable given the terrain and the standard of work executed.
“This is a coastal route going through marshy lands. If we were to do this project now, it would cost over N15 billion per kilometre. The quality of work is very good, and I’m happy with the commitment of the project manager,” the minister said.
He directed that all barricades be removed by the end of November to allow for partial traffic flow while monitoring continues until the final asphalt surfacing is completed later.
The minister said President Bola Tinubu will commission the road, informing plans to install solar-powered streetlights, CCTV cameras, and trees along the embankments, noting that the enhancements would be financed from the project’s contingency funds without additional cost to government.
He said, as the first road link between Bonny Island to the rest of Rivers State, the Bodo-Bonny road is a milestone infrastructure development project for the advancement of the Niger Delta and a catalyst for the continued success of Bonny Island – a key industrial area in Nigeria tied to the economic development and general wellbeing of the nation as a whole.
This project was financed by the federal government and the Nigeria NLG Limited (NLNG) on special contractual conditions of part funding of 50 percent by the gas liquefaction company.
The road comes off with many construction challenges due to the low-lying marshy area, muddy and swampy soil conditions and considerable tidal movements. The scope comprises construction of a 39 km long road, cross culverts and two mini bridges with a span of 23m each, and two creek bridges, Afa Creek Bridge of about 530m length and Nanabie Creek Bridge of about 640m length, in addition to construction of a major river bridge of about 750m length over the Opobo Channel.
Substantial dredging activities and several specialised soil stabilisation methodologies were carried out, employing incremental launching for constructing the bridges.
President Tinubu has approved the phase 2 of the road project in Rivers state, though he did not indicate the length and cost implications.
