The 37.9-kilometre Bodo-Bonny Road in Rivers State, one of Nigeria’s most significant infrastructure projects, has been completed, according to construction giant Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.
The company’s Project Manager, Tim Nippert, said only minor finishing works remain, including tree planting, installation of streetlight foundations and poles, as well as completion of bridge expansion joints delayed by the late arrival of imported materials.
“The project is completed. What’s outstanding now is only tree planting and streetlight foundations as well as pole installations, especially around Kilometre 12 roundabout,” Nippert said during a briefing at the project site in Bodo.
He added that bridge joint installations would be completed within the next two weeks, after which all remaining activities on the highway would be concluded.
According to Nippert, the contractor successfully delivered the project despite difficult marshland terrain and tidal challenges, while also generating savings from the original contract budget. He said the savings were approved by the Ministry of Works for additional features, including street lighting and landscaping.
“From the contract sum, we made some savings and the ministry awarded us to provide streetlights and do some beautification like tree planting. We are now equipping the entire project with additional streetlights with budgets we have saved,” he said.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, had earlier directed that the road be opened to motorists by the end of November 2025, while full completion and commissioning would follow later. During an inspection of the project, Umahi described the quality of work as impressive, noting that the challenging coastal environment justified the project’s cost.
“This is a coastal route going through marshy lands. If we were to do this project now, it would cost over ₦15 billion per kilometre. The quality of work is very good,” the minister said.
The Bodo-Bonny Road, which commenced in October 2017, provides the first direct road connection between Bonny Island and the rest of Rivers State. It is expected to improve access to key industrial facilities, boost commerce, reduce insecurity and strengthen economic activities across the Niger Delta.
The project is also regarded as a model public-private partnership, with 50 per cent funding provided by Nigeria LNG Limited. Its scope included major bridges across the Opobo Channel, Afa Creek and Nanabie Creek, alongside extensive dredging and specialised soil stabilisation works to overcome the area’s swampy terrain.
Meanwhile, Umahi recently disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved Phase Two of the Bodo-Bonny Road project. Represented by Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, the minister said the next phase would further enhance connectivity, economic growth and security in the Niger Delta region.
He described the road as “more than a physical link; a bridge to opportunity, a lifeline for commerce, and a symbol of national cohesion.”
