By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) has earmarked N280 billion for the completion of Bodo-Bonny road project on a deadline of December, 2024.
This was revealed by the Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, during his inspection visit to the project site on Wednesday, according to a statement from the ministry.
He warned that the contractor handling the project, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, must work round the clock to beat the project delivery deadline of December 2024.
Expressing reservations over the Bodo-Bonny project administration by the contractor, the Minister insisted that the amount of money paid needed to correspond with the project to be delivered.
He warned that no further excuses on the project delivery timeline or demands for additional funds for the project for any reason of variation by the contractor would be entertained by the federal government again.
“And in case the devil comes to play, whatever happens, we are not increasing this project cost. It’s a package, and it’s called lump sum final completion package to Julius Berger to do a beautiful job and attach their name.
“It has been 11 years, and we don’t want it to exceed this year. And so it is in your interest that you cooperate,” he said, adding that he would be asking Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, “is there was anything that the Minister of Works and NLNG will do to fast track this engagement so that we can arrive at the destination by the 15th of December 2024?”.
In a another development, the Minister expressed dismay over the attitude of RCC, the contrators handing 15km East West Road (From Port Harcourt Eleme Junction to Onne Port Junction), for their inordinate delay on the project despite receiving mobilisation for the job and warned that the federal government would not entertain any request for Variation on Price( VOP).
“We are very sad with the manners and behaviours of this contractor, RCC.The federal government has paid over N40 billion on this project, and not even one kilometre has been completed.
“And let me make it very clear that the cost we have given on the review of this project does not attract any VOP. There is no VOP on the project as far as the rates are concerned now.”
Lamenting the sufferings of users of the road, Umahi expressed the intention to source funds to maintain the road for the time being, pending when the company remobilises to the site.
“So we have to see where we can source for funds and get any contractor around here to maintain the road. We need to maintain the road. We need to pity the people. It’s not acceptable what our people are passing through for an excuse from RCC that they are importing machines for the job,” he said.
Other projects inspected by the Minister were the dualisation of East-West road section II (sub section II) (Ahoada-Kaiama in Rivers/Bayelsa States) being handled by Setraco Nigeria Ltd and the construction of multiple box culverts at flood damaged locations along the dualisation of East-West road (section II) Ahoada-Kaiama in Rivers/Bayelsa States being handled by Messrs. Rock Result Nigeria Ltd.
In their separate responses, the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate and Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Sen. Onyekachi Peter Nwaebonyi, who was part of the inspection visit, and the spokesperson to the Bodo-Bonny Peace Committee, Professor Jasper Jumbo thanked the President of Nigeria and the Minister for the new development, confessing that this administration had brought a great difference in the Nigerian road infrastructure building trajectory.
The NLNG representative and manager Government Relations, Dienye Godson, also commended Mr President and his team for the will to complete the project.