A group has expressed serious concerns regarding the lack of transparency from Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti in awarding and executing the Port Harcourt-Aba Road project. The group has specifically highlighted the inflated costs associated with the project.
Engr. Dave Umahi, the Minister of Works, informed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has accepted Otti’s invitation to commission several key projects, including the long-awaited Port Harcourt Road in Aba, which has been neglected for over a decade. The road, measuring approximately 6.9 km, was reconstructed at a staggering cost of 36.5 billion Naira, prompting ongoing debates among residents who are demanding explanations for such high expenses.
Notable figures calling for accountability include former Finance Commissioner Honourable Obinna Oriaku and the “Abia Liberation Movement,” led by Ikechukwu Madubugwu. They have publicly criticized Otti’s management of the project and questioned the ethical implications of inviting the President to inaugurate a financially contentious initiative.
Madubugwu urged President Tinubu’s advisers to seek thorough accountability from the Abia State government regarding the justification for spending 36.5 billion Naira on a project that does not involve complex construction challenges. He expressed disappointment that Otti prioritized inviting a former president for the inauguration of a new power substation and another road project, rather than inviting President Tinubu for more significant initiatives.
The group emphasized that it is inappropriate for Otti to associate President Tinubu with such a controversial project and called on the presidency to scrutinize the projects they are invited to commission in Abia State.
In light of this situation, former Transport Minister, Rt Honourable Chibuike Rotimi Amechi, has advised Governor Otti to maintain accountability and transparency with the citizens. During President Tinubu’s upcoming visit, he is also expected to launch the $1.3 billion Abia Medical City project on May 23.
