South Eastern Nigeria road project underway

Construction work on an important road link is underway in South Eastern Nigeria. The US$333 million road link will connect Bodo with Bonny Island. The 35.7km road includes the construction of a new bridge. The work is being carried out by contractor Julius Berger and commenced in 2017, with completion due in 2022. The project faces technical challenges as 7km of the route runs through marshy ground. There have also been issues between residents in the area and the contractor.

When complete, the new road will connect with the Port Harcourt-Eket highway. The construction of the road is of key significance for Nigeria as a whole. Bonny Island is a centre for Nigeria’s oil industry and personnel and equipment has so far been transported to and from the area by boat or helicopter. There has been considerable resentment over many years in South Eastern Nigeria over the lack of investment in transport infrastructure, despite the key importance of the region to the country’s overall economy due to the presence of the oil industry.