WRITTEN BY UDE AJAH
Former Abia state Commissioner for Trade and member of the APC, Chief Charles Ogbonna has warned the state governor Dr Alex Otti, who is of the Labour Party, not to formal re-flagg off the reconstruction of the dilapidated Umuahia ( Abia State ) to Ikot Ekpene ( Akwa Ibom ) federal road.
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The execution of the road contract has lingered for many years due reportedly, to poor funding by the awarding federal government.
Ogbonna issued the caution following governor Otti’s announcement to journalists during his September month media chat, stating that the road reconstruction will commence after president Bola Tinubu’s visit to the state on Friday 3rd October, 2025.
The president is to formally commission the reconstructed Port Harcourt road in Aba metropolis that was expanded to six lane at about N30 billion cost by Julius Berger Construction Company
Ogbonna explained that re-flagging off of the road reconstruction by Otti would would credit his administration as the sponsor or reconstructor of the federal road.
Ogbonna stated that this Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene federal road re construction had been flagged off six years ago in 2019 , after it’s total repair contract award was facilitated by the former member Ikwuano/Umuahia Constituency representative in the House of Representatives , Hon Sam Onuigbo, a member of the APC, who hailed from the area that the road passes through to Akwa Ibom state.
He ( Ogbonna ) however corroborated that work on the road was delayed over the years due to poor funding.
He said ” that project was formally flagged off in 2019 after it was attracted by the former member representing Umuahia/Ikwuano Federal Constituency, Hon. Sam Onuigbo”.
He added that it was also following Hon Onuigbo’s sustained efforts with some other persons, that made it possible for President Bola Tinubu to, on 3rd , February 2025, approve that the road reconstruction should this time be funded under the NNPCL Tax Credit Scheme.
Ogbonna however said that he was not against Otti taking over the road reconstruction, but that the credit must go to the federal government.
“I had expected the governor to join hands to ensure that the project is funded by the federal government , but if he has decided to take it over, it is still okay, but it certainly doesn’t require a second flag-off ceremony,”
According to Ogbonnaya, if the federal government will eventually refund Abia State whatever amount it spent on the rehabilitation of the road, the APC controlled federal government should take the credit.
“The people should let know who initiated the project, including the involvement of the APC federal government. There is therefore , no need for a second flag-off of the rehabilitation of the road,” Ogbonna stressed.
