Federal Government Committed to the Completion of Bodo-Bonny Road Project in Rivers State, Directs Julius Berger Nigeria Plc to go Back to Site   The Hon. Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON has assured the host communities to the Bodo-Bonny Road & Bridge project in Rivers State that Federal Government under the Renewed Hope administration of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR would ensure the completion of the Bodo-Bonny Road and bridge project on record time.   The Honourable Minister gave this assurance during the courtesy visit of a delegation of Bodo–Bonny Road Peace Committee to his office at Federal Ministry of Works, Abuja on 5th December 2023. The Honourable Minister who described the project as a catalyst for economic revolution in the area stated that the project was awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc by the previous administration and only about 84% of the project has been completed.   He noted that there was a partnership agreement in 2017 between Federal Government via Federal Ministry of Works and NLNG on modalities for the funding of the project. He wondered why the contractor; Julius Berger Nigeria PLC was no longer on site despite their commitment under their agreement to deliver within the revised date of completion.   He faulted the stand of Julius Berger PLC on variation of the project even when the company had signed a commitment to complete the project without asking for further variation. He maintained that "no equipment must be allowed to be moved out of site, they must complete that project as agreed and as signed and nothing has removed that responsibility which they willingly on their own signed. "I implore you the peace committee to report to me the progress that has been made on that road.”   “Bobo-Bonny project was augmented to 199billion, I am told by the Ministry and NLNG Limited (NLNG) that there was a document signed by Julius Berger that the project cannot be varied which means that the project cost cannot be increased, the project is about 35 kilometers.”   The Honourable Minister thanked the host communities for maintaining peace between them and the contractor handling the project despite the delays in handling the project and charged them to continue with their peaceful disposition to contractors handling projects in their area, noting that the Ministry would make sure that the Bobo-Bonny Road project would be completed by April 2024. “Nobody will hold this country to ransom, if they cannot do it, another person will come and do it and finish it even better but the only charge I give to you is not to allow any equipment out of sight until they complete the project."   The Minister equally said the Federal Government will equally handle a coastal road in the area of even greater site challenges, and the cost would not be up to what Government is paying Julius Berger. “I respect them for their quality and commitment, but we shouldn't be taken for granted” “it is a character of arrogance for them to demobilize from site.”   Earlier in his remarks, the Federal Director Bridges and Design Engr. O. O. Awosanya gave a brief history of the award and funding of the project by Julius Berger. He said the initial date of completion was supposed to be 31st December 2023 and that the road consisted of 13 bridges “We have three main bridges and we have nine mini bridges and one bridge over the pipeline. The project completion as of today is about 84% and the contractor has requested for a review which is against the spirit of the propagated agreement that was signed between the Federal Government, the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas and JB in 2021.”   Delivering the mission statement of the delegation of the Bodo-Bonny Road Peace Committee, the Acting Chairman and leader of the delegation, Chief Dr. Charles John Jumbo thanked the President of Nigeria, His Excellency, Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR for the massive intervention he is bringing to the road sub-sector and appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Works in changing the narrative of the road infrastructure in Nigeria “We also take this opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to our dear President, His Excellency Ahmed Bola Tinubu, President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for appointing a distinguished Engineer and administrator of your caliber to oversee the crucial Federal Ministry of Works. Your appointment has indeed sparked hope within us for the successful execution of various infrastructure projects within Nigeria, especially the Bodo-Bonny Road and Bridges Project.”   He said the delegation was in the Minister’s office to register their displeasure over the sudden demobilization from site and abandonment of the Bodo-Bonny Road and Bridge project by Julius Berger Plc despite the huge funds committed by the Federal Government through NLNG and implored the timeous intervention of Federal Government to avert the imminent hardship to be faced by the people of the area. “We observed the seeming demobilization of the contractors, Messrs. Julius Berger Nigeria Plc from the project site at about 80 per cent completion, leaving us deeply troubled as the Peace Committee and representatives of the communities directly imparted by the vital road network, we are apprehensive that the project’s discontinuation might result in yet another addition to catalogue of abandoned initiatives" He continued, "We  earnestly implore your immediate attention and intervention in addressing the current state of the Bodo –Bonny Road Project. Our communities remain committed to fostering peace and progress and the successful completion of this project. ...

Federal Government Takes Over the Completed 2nd Niger Bridge Project with Ancillary Facilities from Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN) PLC   …..Assures of Its Commitment to Delivery Of Enduring Road Infrastructure in Nigeria …..As Sen. Umahi Harps on Prompt Supervision of Projects Of The Federal Ministry of Works Says Day and Night and Even Weekends Shall Not Be Spared   The Federal Government of Nigeria has restated its commitment to the delivery of enduring road infrastructure that will conform with the world best standard and add value to the economic recovery action plan of the Renewed Hope administration of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR This  was contained in the message of the Hon. Minister of Works, His Excellency Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON when he received the handover of the completed 2nd Niger Bridge project and ancillary facilities from the contractor that handled the project, Messrs. Julius Berger  Nigeria (JBN) Plc this  Sunday, the 3rd day of December 2023 at the 2nd Niger Bridge toll station "We are here to take over the completed works of Julius Berger  Nigeria Plc on the 2nd Niger Bridge and some access roads. We are satisfied with the works done  and which project circle was completed under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We thank the immediate past administration of President Mohammadu Buhari for doing quite a lot to bring this project to fruition and of course my predecessor, His Excellency, Babatunde Raji Fashola, CON, SAN who was the Hon. Minister of Works that handled this project. The job is impeccably beautiful and well completed".   The Hon. Minister stated that  in line with the new innovations of Mr. President on road infrastructure, his Ministry would work to ensure the installation of solar powered light on the length of the completed project, ensure that the two interchanges of the bridges are completed, acquire more land through the State Government so as to have service stations and  ensure security on the road through the installation of CCTV cameras. And the Ministry also plans to concession the project through the HDMI programme.   "We have the light issue, and we shall put our heads together on how to have light permanently along the completed road especially at night and we have agreed on solar solution. The road project will be fully completed when we have completed the two interchanges. One is taking road users off from Asaba town so that if you are coming to this bridge, you don't have to go through Asaba town to encounter vehicular traffic  while the other one is to take road users off  Onitsha town to avoid traffic, and it is when this is done that the entire job will be said to have been fully completed. Julius Berger and RCC have been respectively proposed to handle the jobs." "However, If we get an investor who is prepared to fund the two interchanges, we shall concession the two projects to such investor  under our HDMI programme, and we are going to acquire more land here so we can establish service stations and we get the private sector to build hotels, restaurants, supermarkets, fillings stations and other facilities for public use as we see in Western world" "And  of course we are going to ensure security surveillance along the road through the installation of CCTV cameras and deployment of security personnel so that within this axis you can have access to security within the shortest possible time".   The Hon. Minister also said that although Federal Government is taking over the completed 2nd Niger Bridge, the contractor shall still be liable within the defect liability period and so if anything goes wrong in the completed job, the contractor will be called upon to fix it. He added that the toll would be activated the moment the two interchanges are fixed.   Speaking during the handover ceremony, the Director Bridge Design and Construction, Federal Ministry of Works Engr. Obioha thanked the Federal Government for working assiduously to ensure that the project was completed. He noted that the Ministry worked well with the contractor to ensure the project was completed on record time and hoped that the public would complement this Federal Government's efforts by abiding by the rules of the road and helping to ensure the safety and protection of the installations along the road.   On his own part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN) Plc, Dr. Las Ritcher said the bridge was commissioned by the immediate past administration but there was need for a technical handover to the Federal Ministry of Works, hence the handover ceremony. He expressed hope that the Federal Ministry of Works under Sen. Umahi who is known for his penchant for quality delivery of jobs would be satisfied with the quality of job done "He has seen what Julius Berger had delivered to the highest quality. I think he is satisfied and from tomorrow we can say it is not our project; it is now the project of the Federal Ministry of Works. I am delighted to hand it over to the client and that he can run that road, including the toll station".   It is to be noted that the contract awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria (JBN) Plc is for the construction of 2nd Niger Bridge linking Anambra and Delta States, Contract No. 6475 and construction of access road from existing Benin- Asaba Expressway to approach link road to 2nd Niger Bridge, Contract No 7919.   Meanwhile the Hon. Minister of Works had on the same Sunday, 3rd December 2023 paid an inspection visit to the project site of CGG Nig. Ltd on the contract for the Rehabilitation of Enugu- Port Harcourt Expressway Section 111: Enugu- Lokpanta 61.15 km road. The Hon. Minister also visited the collapsed New Artisan bridge along NNPC Mega Filling Station Enugu- PH  Expressway, Enugu State. Works in those locations are ongoing and are expected to be delivered on record time. ...

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Commissions TETFund Sponsored Projects- Faculty of Education Building, University Library, ICT/ Research University Library, ICT/Research Centre in Ebonyi State University   ....Describes Education as a Bedrock to National Development   The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Senator Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR has described education as one of the most critical sectors of our national development that would be given priority by his Renewed Hope administration The President disclosed this during the commissioning of the TETFund sponsored education projects in Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. The President who was represented by the Hon. Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON commended TETFund for the roles it has been playing in advancing educational development in Nigeria noting that education has a pride of place in the 2024 proposed project which is now before the National Assembly for consideration.   "TETFund is playing vital roles in our educational system. TETFund has over the years played the role of bridging the gap of infrastructure and research in our tertiary institutions."   The President commended the Governor for the environment provided by State which saw to the successful completion of the TETFund sponsored projects." I want to thank you very much our dear Governor. You are well suited for this position". He also commended the TETFund management for the sense of prudence and value for money exhibited in the course of the execution of the TETFund projects in the University and  gave assurances that education and road infrastructure among other critical sectors of the economy shall attract unprecedented commitment  of the  Renewed Hope administration as they are among the precursors for the  rejigging of the national economy.   In his earlier address, the Governor of Ebonyi State, His Excellency, Rt Hon. Bldr Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, FNIOB, GGCEHF described as laudable the TETFund sponsored projects in the University and commended the Federal Government for finding the State worthy of benefiting from such funding from TETFund. "I have analyzed the project of TETFund, I have looked at it and found out that the value of and the reason for the project is enormous. This is the Agency of government that is not given to any story. If you are a contractor to TETFund, you must know they don't take story. “There is no provision for revaluation of job, no variation” And this he said is the way to go for us to show effectiveness and efficiency in the use of the taxpayers’ resources. The Governor expressed hope that TETFund would give more interventions to the State, noting that a lot of interventions had eluded the State especially infrastructural interventions from Federal Government and so the State is hoping to benefit more from the Federal Government.   He thanked the representative of Mr. President for his roles in the Federal Government's interventions in the State so far and hoped that more would be attracted to the State.   In their earlier remarks, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Chigozie N  Ogbu, OFR and the Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny S T Echono, OON, FNIA took their turns to commend the President of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his manifest commitment in raising the bar in educational development in Nigeria, particularly his interest in the development of tertiary education.   The Vice Chancellor noted that it was the first time in the history of the University that TETFund sponsored projects were being commissioned at the University and they are grateful to the President. "I am very happy to report that all our infrastructural and supply projects from TETFund are completed except for one pending installation of the solar panels for the lecture podia already supplied. "We are grateful to TETFund for these impactful input into the development of Ebonyi State University".   The Executive Secretary of TETFund on his own part said he was optimistic that the TETFund sponsored projects in the University would strengthen the University's efforts in becoming a global player in the tertiary education sub- sector and significantly contribute to educational research and development. "Our resolve as a Fund is to ensure that our interventions are sustained and improved upon as much as possible to enable our institutions undertake bigger and more laudable and impactful projects that will make them become globally competitive and situate them in enviable positions among their peers both nationally and globally. We shall continually engage with our beneficiary institutions towards ensuring the delivery of iconic and impactful intervention projects in subsequent intervention years."   It is noteworthy to mention that the Projects commissioned by Mr. President were attracted by the representative of the President when he was the Governor of Ebonyi State. The Projects commissioned are: [1] Faculty of Education This is a Four-Floor structure containing 27 classrooms, 3 major teaching laboratories, 66 offices, Faculty Library and 2 lecture theaters. The classrooms, offices, laboratories, and lecture theaters are furnished.   [2] University Library This is a three-floor structure housing e-Library, Library Sections for each Faculty; Sections for bindery, references and cataloging. There is a section for bookshop. There are twelve offices and a Board Room.   [3] Information Communication Technology/Research Center This is a 2-Floor building containing 500 seating capacity furnished auditorium, four ICT Halls with 582 desktop computers for CBT Exams and training. MacArthur Foundation Advertising Practitioners Laboratory and offices. ...