The Federal Government has assured Nigerians that the construction of the Bodo-Bonny road would be completed on schedule as funding would no longer be a challenge.
This was disclosed by the Director Highway Road Design, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Engr. Omotayo Awosanya during an inspection tour of the project to ascertain the level of work done and update Nigerians on what the present administration had achieved so far on the project.
According to Engr.Awosanya the project had a counterpart funding mechanism when it was awarded in 2014, 50% from the Ministry and the remaining 50% from the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Limited.
He stated that funding would no longer be an issue in the execution of the project because the Federal Government is adopting the Tax Credit Scheme with the Nigeria Liquified Natural Gas Limited to completely fund the project.
Out of the 37.9km road, Engr.Awosanya disclosed that 31km has been completed. He said that with the speed of work put in by the contractor,Julius Berger Nigeria Plc recently, the project would be delivered in November 2021 as scheduled.
He further stated that the project was important to President Muhamadu Buhari as it would open up Bonny Island in particular and generally lead to economic empowerment of the country as a whole.
Speaking during the site visit, the Project Manager of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Thomas Haug said since commencement of work two years ago, his company had completed all the parapets, started work on eight mini bridges and constructed 200m long pipeline crossing bridge. He said two mini bridges had been constructed and 1.4million cubic meters of sand dredged to the point of the inspection .
Mr.Haug disclosed that they would be constructing the major bridge at Opobo next.
Also speaking, His Royal Highness, Chief Benson Egwenre, a community leader from Andoni said the community was happy especially with the prospects of economic benefits from the project . He said as per local content, the contractor has promised to employ youths of the community from January next year.
However, a total of 587 persons have been employed by the Contractor, out of which 438 ( consisting of unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled labour) are from the immediate host communities while more people will be employed from the host communities by the main contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria and subcontractors as the work progresses.
Boade Akinola
Director Press&Public Relations
November 21,2020
