The federal government has given Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, a December delivery deadline to complete the Bodo-Bonny road project in Rivers state.
To this end, it had approved the total and final sum of N280 billion for the completion of the project started over 11 years ago.
A statement issued on Friday by Barrister Orji Uchenna Orji, the Special Adviser on Media to the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, quoted him speaking during his inspection visit to the project site.
Umah warned that the contractor handling the project, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, must work round the clock to beat the project delivery timeline of December 2024.
“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 a lump sum 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.
“I will be asking Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, is there 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?,” he said.
He praised the perseverance of the Bodo-Bonny Peace Committee and the cooperation and uprightness of NLNG funding the project.
Meanwhile, the minister has expressed dismay over the attitude of RCC handling the 15km East-West Road (From Port Harcourt Eleme Junction to Onne Port Junction) for its delay on the project despite receiving mobilisation for the job.
“We are very sad with the manners and behaviours of this contractor, RCC. The federal government has paid over 40 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.”
