President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised Julius Berger Nigeria PLC for the quality and scale of work on the 35.7-kilometre Bodo–Bonny Road, assuring Nigerians that the long-awaited project will deliver safety, pride, and economic value upon completion.
The President, represented by the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi spoke during the temporary opening of the road to allow residents along the corridor ease of movement during the yuletide season. Tinubu acknowledged that the project faced prolonged delays and challenges but commended the patience of host communities and the renewed commitment of the contractor, describing the current work as impressive.
Umahi disclosed that the temporary opening followed a direct directive from the President, who wanted to create a festive atmosphere in Bodo and the Bonny Kingdom by easing access during the holidays. He noted that the road’s permanent commissioning would be carried out personally by President Tinubu, likely next year.
The minister stressed that the opening is strictly temporary and comes with conditions. Vehicular movement is restricted to between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., with night travel prohibited. Heavy-duty vehicles are barred from using the road until construction obstacles are removed, while motorcycles (okada) and tricycles (keke) are also banned to prevent accidents and damage.
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Umahi further directed Julius Berger to enforce the restrictions by mounting roadblocks to stop unauthorised vehicles from accessing the route. He praised the company’s current management team, stating that improved cooperation and responsiveness had helped avert earlier conflicts that once threatened the project.
He also mandated additional works ahead of completion, including tree planting along both sides of the road and the installation of solar-powered streetlights at 30-metre intervals to enhance safety and aesthetics.
Earlier, the Project Manager of Julius Berger, Tim Nippert, recounted the difficult journey of the project, attributing recent progress to improved collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works and host communities.
The event drew commendations from well-wishers, National Assembly members, traditional rulers from affected communities, and representatives of the Rivers State Government, who applauded both the Federal Government and Julius Berger for pushing the project close to completion.
