…Bodo-Bonny highway will be completed in December 2023
The Minister of Public Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has said that contrary to suggestions from some quarters, the people of Rivers State have benefited greatly from the infrastructure advances brought about by the president, Major General Muhammadu Buhari ( retired), who headed the administration.
He also revealed that Bodo-Bonny Road could be used by Nigerians by December 2023 when the project is completed.
According to the minister, the president has demonstrated his commitment to infrastructure development in all regions of Nigeria, including the rivers.
This was revealed in a statement signed by the ministry’s spokeswoman, Ms Blessing Adams-Lere on Thursday.
Fashola, who was on an inspection tour of the Bodo-Bonny project, said the historic 37.9km N200 Billion single carriageway project with nine bridges has reached a 70 percent work level.
He further assured that funds have been made available to ensure its completion even when the president’s term expires.
He said: “It is instructive to point out that this same project is being executed by the Federal Government.
“I heard some people comment that the Federal Government is not doing anything in Rivers State.
“Bodo and Bonny are at Rivers State. This is an investment of 200 billion naira in one state.
“The quantity is not the problem, but the short and long term importance of the project is to address the problem of poverty and how to lift people out of poverty.
“This place was also mired in conflict, but this project has brought peace and stability among the communities who are now working together.
“I can say that for the first time in human civilization and in human history, people can walk between the communities of Bodo and Bonny and it’s almost done.”
Speaking on behalf of the Bodo and Bonny communities, the chairman of the peace committee for the road project, Chief Salama LongJohn, thanked the federal government for taking bold steps to build the road and give them access to other parts of Nigeria, stressing that will bring prosperity to the land.
He said: “I thank President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Public Works and Housing Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN for this project. Our hopes as a people are alive now because the project will create many economic opportunities for our people. We are happy. As we have been reminded, we will remember this government led by the Congress of All Progressives.”
Meanwhile, the federal government temporarily removed roadblocks on the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highways to allow free flow of traffic for motorists traveling the routes over the festive period.
This development means that both lanes of the more than 380 kilometers will be open for commuter use from now until January, when the contractors are expected to return from vacation.