BARELY a year after the Federal Government re-assured that work would resume at the abandoned Bodo-Bonny road in Rivers State, there seems to be no hope in sight for the Ogoni communities. The contract was awarded about 11 years ago.
Minister of State for Works, Bashir Yuguda, had on September 2012 inspected the road project and blamed the delay in its delivery to under-funding, community disagreements and poor performance of the contractor handling the work.
Yaguda however assured that his visit to the site would facilitate the completion of the project soonest as he noted that the Federal Government was determined and dedicated to delivering the project.
His words: “Mr. President attaches serious importance to this project due to its relevance to the Nigeria economy, Bonny Island is the hub of oil and gas in the country; the NLNG is there, several oil exploration is taking place there, so the government value the project greatly”.
But an Ogoni group under the aegis of National Association of Ogoni Media Workers (NAOMEW), said it was disheartening that the only project that indicated the Federal Government presence in Ogoni land, had been abandoned for eleven years as successive governments had come and gone leaving the project in a pitiable state.
They pointed out that project is the only link road to Bonny Island, which plays host to several multi -national oil industries including the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) and would boost the economy of the Ogonis, the Niger Deltans and Nigeria at large if completed.
The group spoke during a courtesy visit to the Deputy Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly Leyii Kwane, member representing Khana Constituency II in Ogoni.
President of the Group, Mr. Joe Visanga observed that the design of the road sharply divided Bodo city into two but he reasoned that a redesign and early completion of the project would improve the people’s living standard, as their business activities would be enhanced.
According to him, “ I wish to observe that the only project that can indicate the Federal Government presence in Ogoni is the Bodo-Bonny road. Several years after the contract was awarded, successive administrations have come and gone and the road had been abandoned”.
He therefore called on the Deputy Speaker to use his privileged position to appeal for the increase of Federal presence in Ogoniland especially the completion of the Bodo-Bony road. Responding, Kwanee noted that the project has been in the exclusive list of government, as it remains a very important project in the region, stressing that it was obvious that the project would boost economic activities when completed.
He promised to meet with other legislators in Ogoni to discuss how best to push for the completion of the project and as well, attract more of the Federal presence in Ogoni land. He assured the group of a positive outcome on their request.
Meanwhile, the Chairman Bodo Council of Chiefs and Elders, Mene Sylvester Kubara who is miffed about the eleven years abandoned project, said it would have been better that their farm lands were left for them than to acquire it for the road project and abandoned it. He lamented that the uncompleted project has turned to houses for hoodlums.
According to him, “The community welcomed the project because we see it as something that will bring development. The Niger Delta is the heart of Nigeria economy .At the moment Bonny is the hub of oil and gas industries in the country, virtually all the oil companies are there, so the delivery of this road will boost economic activities and create employment.”
“ But it is disheartening that the road was abandoned after the contract was awarded and our farm lands taken, the minister has come, our appeal is that the minister should ensure that the promise to commence work at the project immediately is kept because we are tired of too much promises; let it not be one of those usual visit but let it be that he has come ,seen what is on ground , will ensure funds are provided to fast-track the delivery of the project” Kubara said.
The 36-kilometer road is expected to accommodate about eleven bridges but presently only the first phase of the bridge is completed. The firm handling the project, Gitto Construction Limited, Prof. Jason Ossai, noted that their major handicap is insufficient funding.
Ossai said, the N1.5billion released annually for the project was very inadequate, and demanded for improved budgetary allocation to enable the company complete the road project soon.
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