Tax Credit: Reps To Probe Imo Govt, Oil Coys Over Abandoned Orlu-Akokwa Road

The House of Representatives has resolved to investigate alleged abandonment of Orlu-Mgbe-Akokwa Road in Ideato North/South federal constituency of Imo State, by the state government and some oil companies despite former President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of Tax Incentive Credit for the project.

Recall that in October, 2017, former President Buhari approved the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit (RITC) Scheme which was designed to attract private sector involvement in the provision of road infrastructure across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

Among the many roads that were contemplated within the scheme for repair and reconstruction is the 22km Orlu-Mgbe-Akokwa federal road that runs through Ideato North/South federal constituency of Imo State.

The resolution of the lawmakers was sequel to the adoption of a petition from the Forum of Elders of Ideato Communities laid at the House plenary on Tuesday by the lawmaker representing the constituency, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere.

Laying the petition dated March 14, 2024 and signed by the forum’s chairman, Elder Ejike Okwara, and secretary, Elder Mbaoma Uche, the forum noted that under the tax credit scheme, the Imo State government and the oil companies entered into a partnership for the repair and rehabilitation of the road.

The petitioners, however, lamented that after a year when the construction of the road was flagged off, there was little or no work carried out on the road so far and the people of the constituency were suffering a total cut-off from other parts of the State and country, as a result of the poor state of the road.

According to the forum, as a result of the abandonment of the construction of the road, there has been an upsurge of ravaging gully erosion, that have led to washing-off of the houses and landed properties situated within the precincts of the road and many residents have fled from the area for the fear of their lives.

While fearing that if no urgent action is taken to restore the contractor(s) back to site for the reconstruction of the road, the lives of the residents in the area will continue to be in jeopardy.

The elders, therefore, urged the lawmakers to compel the relevant Ministry and all partners within the RITC Scheme, to come back to site and continue the repair of the road, for the good people.

The petition was consequently referred to the House Committee on Public Petitions for further legislative action by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, who presided over the plenary session.