Amid increasing discontent regarding Abia State Governor Dr Alex Otti’s lack of transparency in awarding and executing the Port Harcourt-Aba Road project, a group has voiced concerns over the project’s inflated costs.
Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi stated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted Otti’s invitation to commission several landmark projects since taking office. Among these is the long-awaited Port Harcourt Road in Aba, which has been neglected for over a decade and is deemed critical for the local economy and commuters.
The road, spanning approximately 6.9 km, was reconstructed at an astonishing cost of 36.5 billion Naira. This expenditure has sparked ongoing debates, with Abians demanding explanations for the high costs. Notable voices in this call for accountability include former Finance Commissioner Honourable Obinna Oriaku and the “Abia Liberation Movement,” led by Ikechukwu Madubugwu, who has publicly condemned Otti’s lack of transparency in the project’s management.
The Abia Liberation Movement questioned the moral grounds on which Otti invited the President to inaugurate a financially contentious project. Madubugwu urged President Tinubu’s advisers to seek thorough accountability from the Abia State government regarding the actual costs and justification for spending 36.5 billion Naira on a less than 7 km road, which does not involve complex construction or swampy terrain.
Madubugwu also expressed disappointment that Otti prioritised inviting a former president to inaugurate a new power substation and a 46.3-kilometre road project over inviting President Tinubu for more significant projects.
The group highlighted that it is inappropriate for Otti to associate President Tinubu with such a controversial initiative. It urged the presidency to scrutinise the projects they are invited to commission in Abia State.
This situation prompted former Transport Minister, Rt Honourable Chibuike Rotimi Amechi, to advise Governor Otti in a newspaper publication to maintain accountability and transparency with the state’s citizens.
During the anticipated visit, President Tinubu is also expected to launch the $1.3 billion Abia Medical City project on May 23.
