President Bola Tinubu has approved 280 billion for the completion of Bodo-Bonny road, in Rivers state.
Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, disclosed this during his visit to the project site on Thursday.
Hence, the Minister urged Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, (contractor handling the project) to work round the clock to beat the project delivery timeline of December 2024.
In a statement, the Minister expressed reservation over the Bodo-Bonny project administration by the contractor, insisting that the amount of money paid needed to correspond with the project completion.
“And in case the devil comes to play, whatever happens, we are not increasing this project cost. It’s a package, and it’s called lump sum final completion package to Julius Berger to do a beautiful job and attach its name. It has been 11 years, and we don’t want it to exceed this year. And so it is in your interest that you co-operate.
“I will be asking Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, is there anything that the Minister of Works and Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) will do to fast-track this engagement so that we can arrive at the destination by December 15, 2024?” Umahi asked.
He commended the president’s commitment towards the completion of the road project and commended the perseverance of the Bodo-Bonny Peace Committee and the co-operation and uprightness of NLNG funding the project.
In a related development, the minister has expressed dismay over the attitude of RCC handing 15km East West Road (From Port Harcourt Eleme Junction to Onne Port Junction) for their inordinate delay on the project despite receiving mobilisation for the job and warned that Federal Government would not entertain any request for Variation on Price ( VOP).
“We are very sad with the manner and behaviour of this contractor, RCC.The federal government has paid over N40 billion on this project, and not even one kilometer has been completed. And let me make it very clear that the cost we have given on the review of this project does not attract any VOP. There is no VOP on the project as far as the rates are concerned now” he said.
He decried the sufferings of the road users and expressed the intention to source funds to maintain the road for the time being pending when the company remobilises to the site.
Other projects inspected by the minister were the dualisation of East-West Road section II (sub section II) (Ahoada-Kaiama in Rivers/Bayelsa states) being handled by Setraco Nigeria Ltd and the construction of multiple box culverts at flood damaged locations along the dualisation of East-West Road (section II) Ahoada-Kaiama in Rivers/Bayelsa states being handled by Messrs. Rock Result Nigeria Ltd.
The Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate and Senator representating Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Barrister Onyekachi Peter Nwaebonyi and spokesperson to the Bodo-Bonny Peace Committee, Professor Jasper Jumbo were part of the inspection.
