The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has said contrary to insinuations in some quarters, the people of Rivers State have benefited immensely from infrastructural strides occasioned by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), led administration.
He also disclosed that Nigerians would be able to use the Bodo-Bonny Road by December 2023 when the project would be completed.
According to the minister, the President has demonstrated commitment to infrastructure development in all the regions of Nigeria, Rivers inclusive.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Mrs Blessing Adams-Lere on Thursday.
Fashola, who was on an inspection tour of the Bodo-Bonny project, said that the N200 Billion historic 37.9 km single-carriageway road project with nine bridges has reached a 70 per cent level of work.
He further assured that funding has been made available to ensure its completion even when the tenure of the President expires.
He said, “It is instructive to point out that this very project is being executed by the Federal Government.
“I hear some people comment that the Federal Government is not doing anything in Rivers State.
“Bodo and Bonny are in Rivers State. This is a 200 Billion Naira investment in one state.
“The amount is not the issue but the short and long-term significance of the project is addressing the problem of poverty and how to lift people out of poverty.
“This place was also engulfed in conflict but this project has brought about peace and stability among the communities that are now working together.
“I can say that for the first time in human civilization and the history of mankind, people can actually walk on their way between Bodo and Bonny communities and it is almost done.”
Speaking on behalf of the Bodo and Bonny communities, the chairman of the Peace committee for the road project, Chief Salama LongJohn, thanked the federal government for taking the bold steps to construct the road and provide them access to other parts of Nigeria, stressing that it will bring prosperity to the land.
He said, “I thank President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN for this project. Our hopes as a people are alive now because the project will create a lot of economic opportunities for our people. We are happy. As you have remembered us, we will remember this government led by the All Progressive Congress.”
Meanwhile, the federal government has temporarily removed barricades on the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano highways to allow for free traffic flow for motorists plying the routes during the festive period.
This development means the two lanes of the over 380 kilometres will be open for commuters’ use between now and January when the contractors are expected to be back from break.
