Senate team inspects Bodo-Bonny Road project, tasks contractor on speed

The Senate Committee on Works, led by its Chairman, Senator Barinada Mpigi, has conducted an oversight visit to the Bodo-Bonny Road project site, where Julius Berger is the main contractor.

The 38-kilometer road, commenced in 2014, has been challenging to construct due to the area’s low-lying marshy terrain, muddy and swampy soil conditions, and considerable tidal movements.

During the inspection, the committee noted significant progress, with 5 kilometers of the road already asphalted and critical bridges completed, linking the mainland to Bonny Island.

Senator Mpigi, who addressed the media expressed satisfaction with the progress but urged Julius Berger to maintain its reputation as a leading construction company in Nigeria.

“We are happy with the progress, but we expect more from Julius Berger, a company we have come to know as a giant in the construction industry,” Mpigi said.

“We want you to use this Bodo-Bonny road as a sample of your expertise. The Federal Government has made its obligations, and now it’s time for delivery.”

The committee also directed Julius Berger to explore ways to complete the asphalt work by December, with a progress review scheduled for September.

Also, Senator Mpigi emphasized that the committee will be closely monitoring the project’s progress with regular visits to the site.

“This is not a one-time visit,” Mpigi said. “We will be crisscrossing the Niger Delta to ensure that projects are completed on time and within budget. We want to see the impact of these projects on the lives of Nigerians,” Mpigi said.

A member of the committee, Senator Patrick Ndubueze, also emphasized the project’s delicacy, citing differences in construction conditions compared to other regions, saying, “Construction in this area is not the same as in the South-East.

“We need to take into account the unique challenges of this project and ensure that we get it right.”

On their part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engnr Peer Lubasch, assured the Committee that the company would complete the Bodo-Bonny road project by December, pending adequate financing.

According to Lubasch, the pace of construction was slow due to the need to allow the soil to set, given the low-lying marshy area, muddy and swampy soil conditions, and considerable tidal movements.

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He noted that despite these challenges, significant progress has been made, with reasonable kilometers of the road already asphalted, emphasizing that the road is accessible for vehicles to drive into both the Mainland and the Island.

He added that critical bridges have also been completed, linking the mainland to Bonny Island.

He said the project is approximately 75-80% complete, with significant milestones achieved.

He said: “We will endeavour to complete the work by December this year, of course, subject to proper financing.”

Project Manager, Tim Nippeat, confirmed that the company is on track to meet the December deadline.

He said: “The Progress of the entire Scope of the Work which we have got since 2017 uptil now and what we want to complete by the end of this year is today more than 75% we are very close to 80 % completion.”