Infrastructure: Tinubu opens 37.9km Bodo-Bonny Road, ends decades of river, helicopter transport travails

*President Bola Ahmed Tinubu affirms the dream of the Bonny Kingdom has come true with the partial inauguration of the 37.9km Bodo-Bonny Road, ending several decades of travails caused by river transport and costly helicopter service for residents of the Kingdom, other Ogoni communities in the South-South Nigeria

Alexander Davis | ConsumerConnect

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his Renewed Hope Agenda, has inaugurated the temporary use of the 37.9km Bodo-Bonny Road, ending several decades of travails caused by river transport and costly helicopter service for residents of the historic Bonny Kingdom and Ogoni communities, in the South-South region of Nigeria.

ConsumerConnect reports the Federal Government had awarded the multi-billion Naira project, awarded and abandoned way back December 11, 2014.

A stretch of the Bodo-Bonny Road 

The government later revived the infrastructure project October 20, 2017, by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.

The Bodo-Bonny Road with 11 bridges, is the first Federal road, linking the mainland directly to Bonny Island, home to Nigeria LNG and other multi-billion Dollar oil and gas investments.

The government has inaugurated the project after it reached 90.98 percent completion.

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Speaking through H. E. Engr. (Senator) Dave Umahi, Honourable Minister for Works, during the colourful ceremony at Bodo and Bonny axis of the road, President Tinubu described the infrastructure as a flagship achievement of his Renewed Hope Agenda.

Tinubu stated: “The dream of the Bonny Kingdom has come true; the dream of the Bodo Kingdom has come true.

“No riskier journeys through the busy Bonny River, no more expensive helicopters, no more untold hardships to reach this blessed island.”

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The President stated: “For now, the road is open only for light vehicles from 7a.m. to 7p.m. daily.

“Heavy-duty trucks, motorcycles and tricycles are barred until final completion targeted for March 2026.”

The Nigerian leader also applauded the efforts of Julius Berger, especially the Project Manager, who he said ensured that no obstacle stood in the way of the project.

He said: “I have made a commendation to Julius Berger especially Engineer Tim; I think if Engineer Tim was the Managing Director of Julius Berger we wouldn’t have had all the fights we had in so many places.”

Tinubu, therefore, urged the Rivers State Government to provide 20 plots of land each at the Bodo and Bonny ends for the construction of trailer parks.

He, however, warned that indiscriminate parking of trucks would not be acceptable, as such could accelerate deterioration of the newly-constructed road.

In his remarks at the event, Senator Barinada Mpigi, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, applauded President Tinubu love for Ogoni people.

Mpigi pledged the Senate’s continued support for the Tinubu administration.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, represented on the occasion by Dr. Benibo Anabraba, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), also thanked Tinubu for rescuing the project from abandonment and pleaded for more federal interventions.

Fubara said: “This is the temporary opening of the Bonny-Bodo Road, but Mr. President it is a permanent joy for the people of Bonny, Bodo and Rivers State.

“Like Oliver Twist, we will ask for more.”

Julius Berger’s Project Manager, Mr. Tim Nippert, confirmed 35km of the dual carriageway were fully motorable, assuring delivery of the remaining sections in the first quarter of 2026, report said.

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