The assertion of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike that he would convey the appreciation of the people of Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State to President Bola Tinubu over the construction of the Bodo-Bonny Road appears misplaced.
Wike, who said this on Thursday, January 8, 2026 during his Thank You visit to Bonny, Rivers State, stated in completing the project, Tinubu had obviated the risks of travelling to and from Bonny either by sea or air, as previously was the case before the temporary opening of the road.
Pointing out that over time, the project had become a subject of political rhetoric, Wike ascribed glory to God Almighty for an almost completed project.
“All of us know that this Bodo-Bonny Road has been a political road for long. Isn’t that correct? Every government that comes, every government that goes, we will do Bodo-Bonny Road. But as we are coming, I said to God be the glory, that in our time, we are riding on this road.”
“Each time, when the minister of works will be briefing the federal council about how far the Bonny Road has gone, I will not talk, I will keep quiet. I say, well, I don’t want to know how far. All I know, let us ride on the road.”
He commended the Minister of Works for working assiduously to actualize President Tinubu’s dream of completing the road, narrating how difficult it was to come to Bonny for political campaigns prior to the opening of the road.
“I would like to thank my friend, the Minister of Works, for fulfilling and making sure Mr. President’s dream has come to reality.”
“Before, each time we want to go to Bonny for a campaign, we look at ourselves, and say, well, God knows. That is that time. Even when I am in the helicopter, I will be like, God may be praised.”
Meanwhile, factchecks by Kristina Reports show that the road, which was first conceptualised in 1979, saw the light of day in 2017 when the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government partnered with the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG), and Julius Berger PLC for its construction.
As at the end of Buhari’s administration, the project, which was already 65% completed and fully sponsored by NLNG, was inherited by the President Tinubu led administration which overwatched its completion.
Kristina Reports checks also revealed that during the flag off of the road construction, the Rivers State Government under Wike’s watch allegedly declined approval of the football field of Government Girls Secondary School, Finima for the event.
Also, the flag off of the construction of the N120 billion Bonny-Bodo Road project, which was performed by the then acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday, October 12, 2017, was almost done when Wike’s Deputy at the time, Dr Ipalibo Banigo, walked in, an indication of administrative opposition to the project.