By Eshioromeh Sebastian, Abuja
Ex- federal lawmaker, Sam Onuigbo FCIS, FNIM, KJW, has dismissed allegations by Barr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani (SAN) that the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene Road project has been abandoned, describing the claims as “misleading, sensational, and politically motivated.”
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Onuigbo presented progress reports contradicting Ubani’s petition to President Bola Tinubu, insisting that construction on the critical interstate road is ongoing with significant milestones achieved under the current administration.
In a petition shared on his verified social media last week, Ubani accused the federal government of abandoning the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene Road project and urged President Tinubu, the Senate President, and the Works Minister to take immediate action.
Onuigbo revealed that since June 2023, 8.42 km of the previously “terribly failed” sections have been rehabilitated, alongside 4.47 km of concrete drains. He further disclosed that in Q1 2025 alone, 880m of asphalt binder course and 3.22 km of wearing course were completed, with additional drainage work ongoing.
“The Federal Executive Council, on February 3, 2025, approved an augmentation of N14.37 billion for this project to ensure its continuity,” Onuigbo stated. “To claim abandonment just two months after this approval is not only false but a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.”
The lawmaker accused Ubani, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), of repeatedly making “baseless claims” about the road, citing similar petitions in 2021 and 2023 that were debunked. He questioned Ubani’s motives, noting the lawyer’s dual affiliations with the opposition Labour Party in Abia and an advisory role to Senate President Godswill Akpabio (APC).
“Instead of engaging constructively, Ubani resorts to cheap blackmail, ignoring verifiable facts,” Onuigbo said. His fixation on this road suggests a political agenda rather than genuine concern.
Onuigbo confirmed that Hartland Construction Company remains on-site despite intermittent delays caused by funding logistics and environmental factors. He also highlighted the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPCL) intervention as evidence of the Tinubu administration’s commitment to the project.
The lawmaker urged stakeholders to verify facts with the Federal Ministry of Works before making public statements, warning that “incendiary rhetoric” could undermine confidence in critical infrastructure projects. He reaffirmed the Tinubu administration’s dedication to the road, which connects Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and Cross River states, extending to Cameroon.
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