The Federal Government has directed Julius Berger Plc, the contractor in charge of the Bodo-Bonny Road and Bridge Project, not to leave the site until the project, which was recently increased to N199 billion, is completed.
“They must complete that project as agreed and as signed and nothing has removed that responsibility which they willingly on their own signed” claimed the Federal Government.
Giving the order in Abuja when a delegation of Bodo–Bonny Road Peace Committee visited him, Minister of Works, Engineer Dave Nweze Umahi wondered why the contractor was no longer on site despite their commitment to deliver within the revised date of completion.
He stated that the project was awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc by the previous administration and only about 84 per cent of the project has been completed.
The minister noted that there was a partnership agreement in 2017 between the Federal Government via Federal Ministry of Works and Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) on modalities for the funding of the project.
Umahi expressed surprise on the stand of Julius Berger PLC on variation of the project even when the company had signed a commitment to complete the project without asking for further variation.
Consequently, he ordered that no equipment must be allowed to be moved out of site.
“They must complete that project as agreed and as signed and nothing has removed that responsibility which they willingly on their own signed. “I implore you the peace committee to report to me the progress that has been made on that road.
“Bobo-Bonny project was augmented to N199 billion. I am told by the Ministry and NLNG Limited that there was a document signed by Julius Berger that the project cannot be varied which means that the project cost cannot be increased. The project is about 35 kilometres”he said.
The Minister thanked the host communities for maintaining peace between them and the contractor handling the project despite the delays. He charged them to continue with their peaceful disposition to contractors handling projects in their area, noting that the Ministry would make sure that the Bobo-Bonny Road project would be completed by April 2024.
“Nobody will hold this country to ransom. If they cannot do it, another person will come and do it and finish it even better but the only charge I give to you is not to allow any equipment out of site until they complete the project”he ordered.
In a statement, the Minister noted that the Federal Government will equally handle a coastal road in the area of even greater site challenges, and the cost would not be up to what government is paying Julius Berger.
“I respect them for their quality and commitment, but we shouldn’t be taken for granted.
“It is a character of arrogance for them to demobilise from site.”
Earlier, the Federal Director, Bridges and Design, Engineer O. O. Awosanya gave a brief history of the award and funding of the project by Julius Berger. He said the initial date of completion was supposed to be December 31, 2023 and that the road consisted of 13 bridges.
“We have three main bridges and we have 9 mini bridges and one bridge over the pipeline. The project completion as of today is about 84 per cent and the contractor has requested for a review which is against the spirit of the propagated agreement that was signed between the Federal Government, the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas and Julius Berger in 2021”the director, explained.
Delivering the mission statement of the delegation of the Bodo-Bonny Road Peace Committee, the Acting Chairman and leader of the delegation, Chief Charles John Jumbo thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the massive intervention he is bringing to the road sub-sector and appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Works in changing the narrative of the road infrastructure in Nigeria.