President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Saturday in Port Harcourt commissioned the Bodo-Bonny Road in Rivers State, marking a major milestone in Nigeria’s infrastructure development and establishing a permanent road connection between Bonny Island and the mainland for the first time. The exercise, which took place at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in the state capital, amidst fanfare, was witnessed by prominent government officials, traditional rulers, other stakeholders among several others.
Drawing attention to the significance of the project, Tinubu read the inscription on the commissioning plaque laid before him, identifying the infrastructure as the Bodo-Bonny Road, including bridges across the Opobo Channel along Route F430 in Rivers State.
He said, “but before the commencement of any remarks, I hereby seek your attention on the construction of Bodo-Bonny Road. Bodo-Bonny Road with bridges across the Opobo Channel, Route F430 in Rivers State. Commissioned by His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on this day, 7th November, 2026.”
The President subsequently unveiled the commissioning plaque, formally declaring the road open.
Speaking earlier, the Minister of Works, Engr. Nweze David Umahi, expressed excitement over the completion of the road and announced that President Tinubu had approved an extension to connect the project to the East-West Road.
According to Umahi, the approved extension comprises an additional 8.9-kilometre dual carriageway, translating to 17.8 kilometres of road construction using reinforced concrete pavement. He explained that the extension would further improve connectivity, ease transportation and create additional economic opportunities for communities and businesses along the corridor.
The Minister put the average construction cost at approximately ₦7.4 billion per kilometre, highlighting the scale of the engineering investment, particularly in view of the extensive bridge infrastructure required to cross the Opobo Channel.
On the sideline of the commissioning event, the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Engr. Dr. Peer Lubasch, described the Bodo-Bonny Road as a historic infrastructure achievement, noting that its completion fulfils a vision that had existed for more than four decades.
“Today marks a historic milestone, not only for the people of Rivers State, but for Nigeria as a nation. For the very first time, Bonny Island is permanently connected to the mainland by road infrastructure,” he said.
The 39-kilometre project, which traverses Bonny and Gokana Local Government Areas of Rivers State, was temporarily opened to traffic during the festive period last year and completed between May and June this year.
Lubasch highlighted the engineering requirements of the project, which involved construction in the challenging marshy terrain of the Niger Delta. The road features three major bridges across Afa Creek, the Opobo Channel and Nanabie Creek, with a combined length of approximately 2,600 metres, as well as ten smaller bridges measuring about 600 metres combined.
The construction also involved the placement of approximately 3.5 million cubic metres of sand, the installation of 10 million linear metres of prefabricated vertical drains and the use of one million square metres of geotextile materials. He noted that the engineering solutions adopted were necessary to address the difficult ground conditions and ensure the stability and durability of the infrastructure.
Speaking on the wider significance of the road, Lubasch said it would improve connectivity, support commerce and provide a safer alternative to water transportation for residents and businesses in the area.
“Today, this road will significantly improve connectivity, stimulate commerce, enhance socio-economic development and, most importantly, provide a safer and more reliable alternative to water transportation for thousands of Nigerians,” he stated.
He also commended the Federal Government, Nigeria LNG Limited, the Rivers State Government and other stakeholders for their contributions, while recognising the engineers, project managers, technical professionals and thousands of workers whose collective efforts contributed to the successful execution of the project.
For residents of Bonny and neighbouring communities, the commissioning represents an important development in their access to the mainland. The new road connection is expected to make the movement of people and goods easier, support trading activities and improve access to economic and other opportunities. It also provides an alternative to the water routes that have long been used to access the island.
The road’s completion brings a long-awaited connection closer to everyday life for communities along the route. With the new infrastructure in place, residents and businesses stand to benefit from improved road access, while the surrounding communities have greater opportunities to connect with markets and activities on the mainland.
