Thelma Osatohanmwen
The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Works, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Julius Berger Nigeria, the contractor handling the 35.7km Bodo-Bonny Road and Bridge projects in Rivers State.
This ultimatum follows the construction firm’s failure to comply with an initial 14-day directive given in April.
During a meeting with contractors and the Bonny Kingdom peace committee in Abuja on Tuesday, Minister of Works David Umahi emphasized the government’s determination to see the project through to completion.
“I am giving Berger seven days to go back to site. If they don’t go back to the site after seven days, that project will be terminated,” Umahi declared.
He noted that this directive came directly from President Bola Tinubu, who has mandated the project’s completion by the end of this year.
Expressing frustration over the delays and the firm’s reluctance to adhere to project timelines, Umahi stressed the government’s commitment to holding contractors accountable. “This Ministry of Works will not be dictated to by any contractor. We will not allow a contractor to dictate to us,” he stated.
Umahi highlighted ongoing issues with Julius Berger on several other projects, including Lagos-Ibadan, the Second Niger Bridge, Abuja-Kano, and in Cross River. He directed the Permanent Secretary to isolate and reconstruct a problematic section of the Berger site to prevent further embarrassment to the administration.
“We were badly embarrassed last year under the nose of Berger while moving on site, trucks were falling down, the Senate was calling and the whole thing was on the internet. This is not acceptable for our people,” Umahi added, emphasizing the need for contractors to prioritize the country’s and the people’s interests.
The Minister warned that failure to resume work within the stipulated time would result in the project’s reassignment to another contractor. “This relationship must be determined today. Whether to be or not to be,” Umahi asserted.
The Bodo-Bonny Road project, awarded in 2017 through a partnership between the Ministry and Nigeria LNG Limited at a cost of N120.6bn, was initially slated to be funded 50% by Nigeria LNG Limited. Despite an additional N20.5bn provided by the Federal Government in April and a newly set deadline of December 2024, progress has stalled due to a force majeure declared by Julius Berger citing the dwindling exchange rate. The firm has demanded an additional N28.8bn to complete the remaining 16% of the project.
The 39km road is crucial as it will be the first road link between Bonny Island and the rest of Rivers State, enhancing connectivity and economic development in the region.