Government to Complete Bodo-Bonny bridge soon- Fashola
Hon. Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola has said that the Federal Government is determined and focused on the speedy completion of the Bodo-Bonny bridge to alleviate the hardship of the people and open up access road to link the communities and boost economic activities in the region. According to the Minister, the project was one of the priority projects of the government as an attestation to its commitment to provide critical infrastructure to Nigerians across the nation.
Briefing the media during an on the spot assessment of the progress of work at the site, the Minister, represented by the Director, Construction and Rehabilitation, Engr Yemi Oguntominiyi, said the Federal Government was doing everything possible to ensure that adequate funding is released to sustain the work on the project . He observed that, “the work speaks for itself”, as massive construction was going on at the site.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Liquified Natural Gas (NLNG) and also Chairman of the Peace Committee on the project, Chief Onsobonye LongJohn, thanked the federal government for re-awarding the contract for the construction of the bridge and also commended the contractors, Messrs Julius Berger Nigeria Plc for surmounting the difficult terrain of the project which he said was “like constructing on the mud”. He assured that as a critical stakeholder in the project, he has ensured that peace has been fully restored to the communities and that the work has since not suffered further set back.
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Speaking in the same vein, Director of Bridges and design, Engr Charles Okonma said while funding was being vigorously pursued to ensure continuity of the project, he appealed for peaceful working environment, stating that there is no engineering problem without a solution and that such problems will be surmounted.
Federal Controller, Works , Rivers State, Engr J.O Fadire said, though there were challenges of constructing the bridges in the difficult swampy terrain, extensive sand-filling of 10.3km of road access to the Opobo channel has been done. He explained that the project consist of the construction of a 37.9km single carriage road from Bodo, through swamps and creeks to Bonny Island and a 2.22km, 3 Nos bridges across Afa, Opobo and Nanabie creeks, route 430 in the state.
Managing Director, NLNG, Mr Tony Attah in his remarks said, the project has enjoyed one of the biggest Corporate Social Responsibility from the company, adding that the signing into law of the Executive Order 007 by the Federal Government has enhanced the company’s commitment to engage more in partnership with government to realize its infrastructure revolution in the country.
The Minister also inspected the on-going works at the 44.4km Section 1V Port Harcourt-Aba Dual Carriage Road being constructed by Messrs CCECC. He said it was one of the roads government was interested upon and is deploying resources including SUKUK funding to escalate its completion.
He appealed to motorists and road users to exercise patience and caution while using the road to reduce the heavy traffic build up experience. He said the road was strategic because of its economic activities and benefits.
Addressing property owners along the construction road corridors who appealed for issues of their compensation to be addressed, the Minister assured that government was bound to pay compensation for buildings and structures demolished in the course of construction. He said the work was enormous as construction is passing through built up areas and also the relocation of essential structures along the way.
Mrs Eno Olotu
AD, Information
For: Director, Information
