Rivers: Bonny-Bodo Road completion ended years of dependence on boats, helicopters — Wike

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has cited the completion of the Bonny-Bodo Road as an achievement of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying it has ended years of dependence on boats and helicopters to access Bonny Island.

He spoke on Saturday during a courtesy visit to the Amanyanabo of Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, in Port Harcourt, ahead of an interactive meeting with residents of Bonny Local Government Area.

According to him, the road remained a political promise under successive administrations until its completion under the current government.

“The advantage is that we can now go by road to Bonny. Administrations have come, and this road has become a political road. It is not today. So many governments have said, ‘We will try,’ but thank God, under the administration of the present president, this road has been completed,” Wike said.

He said improved connectivity would support economic activities and ease travel difficulties for residents, businesses and visitors.

Wike, who coordinates Tinubu’s campaign in Rivers State and the FCT, urged residents to assess leaders by their willingness to take difficult decisions and deliver projects. He said his visit was to explain developments in the country and encourage informed political choices ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The minister defended the removal of petrol subsidy, describing it as a difficult but necessary reform. He said previous administrations acknowledged problems with the subsidy regime but failed to take decisive action.

Wike acknowledged the hardship caused by rising petrol prices and cost of living, but argued that the policy increased the revenue available to states and local governments. He claimed that states now receive at least N15 billion monthly from federal allocations, excluding other inflows, and urged sub-national governments to channel resources into development.

The former Rivers governor said resources available to states were significantly lower when he assumed office in 2015. He also claimed that public universities had not embarked on strikes in the last three years, linking this to improved funding.

He urged Nigerians to examine the records of politicians seeking office and cautioned against what he described as promises without delivery.

Wike also made claims about the management of funds for projects under a previous Rivers State administration, including a proposed 1,000-bed Justice Karibi-Whyte Specialist Hospital, a monorail, and the sale of a power-related asset. He alleged that $39 million was paid for the hospital without progress to foundation stage, and that $308 million from a power plant sale in December 2014 had reduced to $308,000 by May 2015.

Those claims could not be independently verified, and responses from those concerned were not contained in the account of the event.

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He said government should consult communities before deciding on projects, noting that development priorities differ across localities.

Earlier, King Pepple III welcomed Wike and acknowledged his longstanding relationship with the kingdom. The monarch recalled Wike’s support for the establishment of Bonny Polytechnic when he was minister, as well as his interventions on security. He also acknowledged Wike’s role in the Bonny-Bodo Road project.

“The Minister has been of immense support to us, ranging from where we tried to establish the Bonny Polytechnic. He played a major role towards having this polytechnic started at the time he was minister,” the monarch said.

He described Bonny Kingdom as important to Nigeria’s economic and national life.