For residents of Bonny Island and neighbouring communities in Rivers State, the commissioning of the 39-kilometre Bodo-Bonny Road represents more than the completion of a major infrastructure project.
It marks the end of decades of dependence on water transportation as the principal means of accessing the mainland and opens up new possibilities for trade, mobility and economic development.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday commissioned the road, establishing the first permanent road connection between Bonny Island and the mainland.
The project, which traverses Bonny and Gokana Local Councils, is expected to ease the movement of people and goods, improve access to markets and businesses, and provide residents with a safer alternative to water transportation.
The commissioning, held at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, attracted government officials, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.
For communities along the corridor, the significance of the road lies in the opportunities it offers to overcome longstanding transportation challenges. Improved road access is expected to facilitate the movement of agricultural produce and other goods, strengthen commercial activities and make it easier for residents to access social services and economic opportunities on the mainland.
The road also represents a major boost to the Niger Delta’s connectivity, particularly Bonny Island, which hosts significant oil and gas operations but has historically relied heavily on water transport for access.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, expressed satisfaction with the completion of the project and disclosed that Tinubu had approved an extension to connect the road to the East-West Road.
According to him, the extension will comprise an additional 8.9-kilometre dual carriageway, translating to 17.8 kilometres of road construction, using reinforced concrete pavement.
He said the extension would further improve connectivity, ease transportation and create additional economic opportunities for communities and businesses along the corridor.
Umahi put the average construction cost at approximately N7.4 billion per kilometre, citing the extensive engineering requirements, particularly the bridges constructed across the waterways.
Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Dr Peer Lubasch, described the project as a historic achievement, noting that it had fulfilled a vision that had remained unrealised for more than four decades.
He said the 39-kilometre road was temporarily opened to traffic during the festive period last year and completed between May and June this year.
Lubasch explained that constructing the road through the challenging marshy terrain of the Niger Delta required extensive engineering interventions to ensure its stability and durability.
The project features three major bridges across Afa Creek, the Opobo Channel and Nanabie Creek, with a combined length of approximately 2,600 metres, as well as 10 smaller bridges measuring about 600 metres collectively.
Other construction works included the placement of approximately 3.5 million cubic metres of sand, installation of 10 million linear metres of prefabricated vertical drains and the use of one million square metres of geotextile materials.
According to Lubasch, the infrastructure would stimulate commerce, enhance socioeconomic development and provide thousands of residents with a safer and more reliable alternative to water transportation.
He commended the Federal Government, Nigeria LNG Limited, the Rivers State Government and other stakeholders for their contributions to the project’s delivery, while acknowledging the engineers, technical professionals and thousands of workers involved in its construction.
