Federal Government Issues Ultimatum to Julius Berger to Complete Bonny-Bodo Road

The Federal Government has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Julius Berger Nigeria, the contractor handling the construction of the 35.7km Bonny-Bodo Road and Bridge projects in Rivers State.

This ultimatum comes as a response to the firm’s failure to meet the initial 14-day ultimatum issued in April.

During a meeting with contractors and the peace committee on the project from Bonny Kingdom in Abuja, Minister of Works David Umahi emphasized the government’s determination to see the project through to completion.

He stated that President Bola Tinubu directly instructed the ministry to ensure the project’s completion before the end of the year.

Expressing frustration over delays and non-compliance with project timelines, Umahi emphasized the government’s commitment to holding contractors accountable.

He highlighted issues with Berger’s performance on various projects across the country and stated that failure to return to the site within the given ultimatum would result in the project being awarded to another contractor.

The Bonny-Bodo Road project, which was awarded in 2017 through a collaborative partnership between the Federal Ministry of Works and Nigeria LNG Limited to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, is a vital infrastructure development project valued at N120.6 billion.

This project holds significant importance as it provides the first-ever road link between Bonny Island and the rest of Rivers State, promoting connectivity and economic growth in the region.

Despite an additional N20.5bn allocated to the contractor in April, the project faces delays, partly due to a force majeure declared by the company and exchange rate challenges.