NDDC Partners with NLNG To Expedite Completion Of Bonny Ring Road

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced a strategic partnership with Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Limited (NLNG) to expedite the completion of the critical 27.1-kilometer Bonny Ring Road and Bridges project in Bonny Local Government Area, Rivers State.

The announcement was made during an inspection of the project by the NDDC Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku. Dr. Ogbuku reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to completing the road, citing it as a key mandate from President Bola Tinubu.

He stated: “We are committed to implementing the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the Niger Delta region.

“We are committed to carrying out President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate to transform Nigeria’s oil-producing region.

According to Seledi Thompson-Wakama, Director of Corporate Affairs, Dr. Ogbuku, along with Executive Director Projects, Sir Victor Antai, and other NDDC directors, paid a courtesy visit to the Amanyanabo and Natural Ruler of Bonny Kingdom, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, in his palace.

Dr. Ogbuku informed the Bonny Monarch about the NDDC’s plans for its upcoming 25th anniversary celebration, which will begin with a Thanksgiving Service in Ondo State on July 6, 2025.

Recognising the historical significance of the Niger Delta struggle, the Commission plans to honour the late Harold Dappa-Biriye at the new NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt.

“We are collaborating with NLNG to facilitate the construction of the Bonny Ring Road, the Kaa-Ataba Bridge, and the Okrika-Borokiri Bridge,”

Dr. Ogbuku said, adding that the NDDC is engaging with international oil and gas companies (IOCs) to attract partnerships for large-scale projects, emphasising that the NDDC complements, not competes with, state government efforts.

The NDDC Managing Director emphasised that the project, which is included in the 2024 budget with President Tinubu’s approval, is one of several legacy projects set to be completed throughout the region.

These include the Kaa-Ataba Bridge and the Okrika-Borokiri Bridge, both in Rivers State. Despite the heavy rain, Dr. Ogbuku emphasised the road’s critical role in connecting Bonny Town to surrounding communities and complementing the Federal Government’s Bonny-Bodo Road project.

He also emphasised its potential to help alleviate poverty by promoting economic growth in the host and neighbouring communities.

Engr. Dennis Ododah, Managing Director of the construction firm, stated that the Bonny Ring Road project, which includes 27.14 km of road, 13 bridges, and 26 km of concrete pavement, is scheduled to be completed by the first quarter of 2027.

During the NDDC team’s visit, King Edward Asimini William Dappa Pepple III, represented by the Chairman of the Bonny Council of Chiefs, Alabo Dagogo Claude-Wilcox, thanked the NDDC for their efforts and urged the project to be completed as soon as possible. He also urged the NDDC to strictly supervise the contractor to avoid delays.