Group Urges Firm To Address Concerns Over Abia North Road Extension

The Civil Society Organisations (CSO) Investigative Council has called on Swiber Africa Limited to address concerns regarding the substandard construction of an extended section of the Abariba-Ohafia to Ndi Okoro Road in Abia North senatorial district.

In a statement, signed by the council’s convener, Comrade Nelson Ossaieze, it clarified that the initial 600-meter stretch of the road was built to standard. However, issues arose after traditional leaders and residents petitioned Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to extend the road by an additional 400 meters.

According to reports, Senator Kalu funded the extension with ₦52 million, which was paid directly to Swiber Africa Limited. The controversy, the CSO revealed, centres on this extended portion, which has shown premature signs of deterioration.

It said while the original 600 meters adhered to engineering standards, the CSO noted that the extended section exhibited poor road layering and drainage issues, leading to faster-than-expected wear and tear. Local residents reported visible cracks and water pooling along the newly constructed stretch.

It said these concerns gained widespread attention after Tochukwu Ogbuagu, a social media influencer with Kepukepu TV and an indigene of the area, posted video evidence highlighting alleged construction flaws. His video prompted the CSO Investigative Council to conduct an independent assessment.

The CSO said the road project was originally awarded as a 600-meter construction initiative with a budget of ₦250 million under Senator Kalu’s constituency project. The Federal Cooperative College Oji River oversaw this initial phase, ensuring compliance with the bill of quantities and construction standards.

However, the CSO emphasized that the 400-meter extension was separately funded and not monitored by the Federal Cooperative College Oji River. As a result, the oversight body bears no responsibility for the reported deficiencies.

The CSO Investigative Council has urged Swiber Africa Limited to take immediate corrective action on the extended section, recommending resurfacing, reinforcement of the road layers, and drainage improvements to meet required engineering standards.

Additionally, the council encouraged Senator Kalu to collaborate with the contractor to rectify the problems and ensure the extension matches the quality of the original project.

The council commended the Federal Cooperative College Oji River for its commitment to transparency and accountability in public infrastructure projects. It also called for stronger oversight mechanisms in future constituency projects to prevent similar issues.

Reaffirming that the original project met expectations, the CSO urged Senator Kalu to address the deficiencies in the road extension without delay.