FG Temporarily Opens Landmark Bodo-Bonny Road, Ending Decades of Risky Sea Travel for Yuletide Commuters Amid Strict 7PM Night Ban

In what many residents are calling a “Christmas miracle,” the Federal Government has officially opened the gates of the ₦280 billion Bodo-Bonny Road to public traffic, providing a safe, overland passage for thousands of Nigerians traveling to Bonny Island for the holiday season.

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, led a high-powered delegation to the project site to authorize the temporary use of the legacy road. The move is designed to alleviate the “untold hardships” faced by the people of the Niger Delta, who have historically been forced to navigate the treacherous waters of the Bonny River to reach their homes.

“The dream of the Bonny and Ogoni Kingdoms has finally become a reality,” Umahi declared during the opening ceremony. “For too long, the people here have been at the mercy of expensive helicopters or risky boat trips. Today, by the directive of President Tinubu, we are opening this route so that families can drive home safely for the Yuletide.”

However, the Minister was quick to emphasize that the opening is strictly temporary and conditional. Because construction is still in the final stages of completion—specifically the removal of concrete obstacles and final asphalt layering—the road will only operate between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM.

“We will not allow night journeys for now, and we will not allow heavy-duty trucks to destroy what we have built,” the Minister warned. He further clarified that motorcycles and tricycles are also barred from the route to ensure the safety of the heavy traffic expected during the festive rush.

The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, hailed the development as a historic shift for the state’s economy. He noted that the road would not only save lives but also lower the cost of living on Bonny Island by reducing the high logistics costs previously associated with water transport.

The 37.9km project, executed by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, is an engineering marvel featuring a 1.2km main bridge across the Opobo Channel and several other mini-bridges spanning thick mangrove swamps. While commuters can enjoy the road throughout the holidays, the project is scheduled to close again briefly in early 2026 for final touches ahead of a formal grand commissioning by the President in March 2026.

Security agencies have already been deployed to the Bodo and Bonny ends of the road to enforce the 7 PM curfew and ensure that only authorized light vehicles access the bridge.