Wike Blames Delay In Completion Of N120B Bonny-Bodo Road On Federal Government

Governor Wike made this known at the sendoff ceremony of former NLNG managing director, Tony Attah, which held at the company’s corporate headquarters in Port Harcourt on Saturday night.

The governor, accompanied by the Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo, maintained that  since the N60 billion counterpart fund  for the 38 kilometre Bonny-Bodo road would be paid from the federation account, it would be wrong for the federal government to  continue to claim glory for the funding of the project  with the NLNG.

“The Bonny-Bodo road is not funded between the Federal Government and NLNG. I don’t agree. With due respect, it is funded between NLNG, all the states of the federation and the Federal Government.”

The Rivers state governor noted that if the federal government was committed to the even development of all parts of the country, it ought to have provided the N60 Billion counterpart funding for the speedy completion of the Bonny-Bodo road.

“If this country is a  country that all of us belong to and all of us mean well for ourselves, that is one project that ought to have been completed by now, because of the economic interest that will benefit all of us.”

He eulogised Mr. Attah for the convivial relationship the NLNG under his watch maintained with the government and people of Rivers State.

The governor said Attah will be remembered for overseeing the commencement and completion of NLNG corporate headquarters building in Port Harcourt and for ensuring that all fabrication works for the company’s $10 billion Train 7 were done in Rivers state.

According to him, 7.5 per cent Value Added Tax from the NLNG Train 7 project, will be used to transform the State.

Based on the convivial relationship Attah nurtured and sustained with the State government, the governor said it is also possible for all those working for the International Oil Companies, IOCs to cultivate better relationship with State governments in the Niger Delta.

The governor remarked that by ensuring the speedy completion of the NLNG headquarters in Port Harcourt, Mr. Attah had proved that the claim of insecurity in the Niger Delta by IOCs is indefensible.

“IOCs will say there is insecurity in Port Harcourt, insecurity in Warri, insecurity in Bayelsa but there is no insecurity in taking the oil and gas.”

The governor also said that posterity would forever be kind to Attah for all his good deeds as the managing director of NLNG.

According to him, any government that is committed to the development of the country must engage technocrats like Mr. Attah.

“NLNG will never forget you (Attah). The Amanyanabo of Bonny will never forget you. Rivers  State will not forget you. You have done very well. And I want to tell you by the powers conferred on me in the next award of the State, you are going to get the second highest honour as far as Rivers State is concerned.

“I want to thank you for what you have done for Rivers state. I want to thank you for what you have done for the people of the Niger Delta.”

The governor enjoined the new NLNG managing director, Dr. Philip Mshelbila, to emulate his predecessor and sustain the existing cordial relationship with the state government.

He implored Mshelbila and the board of the NLNG to collaborate with the Rivers state government to develop a vast reclaimed  expanse of land opposite the NLNG corporate headquarters in Port Harcourt.