The hairsplitting between the Federal Government and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc (JBN) has left motorists plying the Bonny-Bodo Road groaning under the parlous state of the road since its abandonment when JBN exited its project site.

Checks by Kristina Reports indicate that due to its abandonment by the construction company, the Bonny-Bodo Road is now in a dilapidated state with motorcyclists and other categories of road users complaining about the debilitating state of the road.

A key aspect of the major road, which is yet to be completed by JBN, is that, upon ingress into Bonny, it connects the New Finima Road at Workers Camp junction and King Perekule Road (formerly New Road) at First Bank junction.

With the much-touted plan to expand it further into town, it now links Shell Road, Mission Road, and King William Dappa Pepple Road all the way to Coal Beach to its stretch.

The road, which ordinarily avails commuters in Bonny Island better access and easy ride into different aspects of the island, has deteriorated to a distressing state with potholes, deep gullies, and in some cases outright collapse.

The affected areas include the section from New Layout Road junction along the King Perekule Road straight down to UBA and First Bank axis. Another sore point is around the RCCG Throne of Mercy Parish and the Workers Camp junction along the New Finima Road.

The dilapidated road has not only hampered commercial activities among the road users but endangered the lives and properties of residents, especially, workers plying the road. Businesses along the road have continued to shut down due to low or lack of patronage.

On-the-spot inspection by Kristina Reports showed that the road, having been left in a bad state over a long period of time and due to the recent rainfall, it has witnessed flooding which has worsened its condition rendering most parts unpassable.

Incidences of buses, cars, motorcycles, and other types of vehicles sinking along the pressured aspects of the road have continued unabated with no hope of obviation in sight.

An instant negative consequence of the situation is the spike in transportation fares with commuters complaining of the high transportation prices commercial transporters now charge due to the difficulty and risk of using the road.

On their part, the commercial transporters and other vehicle owners are also complaining of the damages the road is causing to their vehicles.

As a major road, it is a challenge for company workers and its vehicle drivers as it is the route used to get to their respective jobs.

Incidentally, the road is the only access from Bonny Town, Akiama, Abalamabie, Oguede, Ayambo, Aganya, Bagg-Jumbo, and Park Communities to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) Train 7 project site.

The Train 7 project site has Daewoo Engineering and Construction Nigeria Limited (DECN), Saipem Contracting Nigeria Limited, Prezicon, Arco Engineering, First Marine, Candix Engineering, and Cico Engineering, amongst others working on it.

Same as Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU) Bonny River Terminal, BelemaOil, TotalEnergies, the Farouk Yahaya Camp, home of the Nigerian Army 146 Battalion, and proposed sites for the Federal Government’s Deep Blue Project and Bonny Deep Sea Project.

The sorry state of the Bodo-Bonny Road now makes it extremely difficult for workers coming from the aforementioned areas to access the New Finima Road axis which takes them to their worksite.

Unfortunately for Bonny motorists, no hope is in sight as Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Dave Umahi and his boss, President Bola Tinubu would rather engage in catfights with Julius Berger than give the people of Bonny Kingdom a road they distressingly need.

What makes matters worse is that the road is being funded by the Nigeria LNG through the road infrastructure tax credit scheme.

Under the scheme launched by former President Muhammadu Buhari administration, participants are entitled to utilize the total cost (project cost) incurred in constructing or refurbishing an eligible road as a tax credit against their future companies’ income tax (CIT) liability until full cost of recovery is achieved.

The company started with a 50% arrangement and seeing that public sector bureaucratic bottlenecks may hamper the qualitative and timely delivery of the road offered to provide 100% funding. This has seen the JBN deliver the project up to about 80% completion before the distraction by Umahi.

Minister Umahi has been throwing tantrums over the unwillingness of Bonny Kingdom to risk bringing another contractor to replace JBN, a move close watchers believe is all about an alleged sinister plan by Umahi to bring in a company in which he has substantial interest to replace Julius Berger.

Reports have it that he has allegedly sustained his accusation of JBN of being incompetent and emotionally blackmailing the people of Bonny Kingdom to either support bring in another company to complete the job or continue to suffer with the bad road.

The situation has made many a close watcher of the unfolding drama to believe that very manifest in Umahi’s behaviour towards the completion of the road is President Bola Tinubu administration’s clear hatred for the people of Bonny Kingdom and disinterest in doing anything for them, though their land hosts premium national economic assets.

Some commuters who spoke with Kristina Reports urged both the company and the Federal Government to put their disputes behind them and fix the road, especially, Dave Umahi, who they admonished to shelve his childish tantrums and face the business of completing the road.