Fraud allegations rock NDDC’s N5.2b Isinweke–Onicha Uboma–Imo River Road project

Ten years after the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), awarded the construction of the Isinweke–Onicha Uboma–Imo River Road, residents of Dimneze community, in Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area of Imo State, and other road users are left to groan over the deplorable state of the abandoned road project.

Track News reports that the Isinweke–Onicha Uboma–Imo River Road and Umuawuchi Ezinmba Road is a tale of neglect and abandonment.

The situation has crippled economic activities, as residents of the affected communities battle for survival. Tunji Adedeji, who has been following the story, reports.

The contract, which was awarded to Daeyun Nigeria Ltd, Wuse, Abuja, in 2012, at the approved sum of N5.2 billion was expected to be completed within three years. But 10 years later, the project remains a mere wish for the residents of the agrarian communities.

Umuawuchi Ezimba Road project, the worst portion in the area, was awarded to Marco-kings Nigeria Limited. It was totally abandoned after laying of foundation. Till date, the project site at Lowa, and Onicha Uboma-Imo River, which also connects the community to its neighbours and serves as links to Abia and Enugu States, has not received its deserved attention as specified in the contract agreement.

Moreover, the people living around the bad spots of the road have claimed not to have seen any movement of tractors and heavy duty vehicles as indication of construction activities or sign of ongoing work at the site.

Communities count their losses

The deplorable state of Lowa and Onicha Uboma-Imo River road has become a perpetual source of sorrow to residents of the affected communities. Comrade Eguzie Emeka Vincent, the Speaker/Liaison officer of Ntoloma autonomous community, and the immediate past Secretary of Ihitte Uboma Local Government Area, said the road has affected their livelihoods.

He said: “Our people find it almost impossible to take their farm produce and goods to markets in neighbouring communities. Access to markets outside the communities, especially in the rainy season, has become a daydream for them.

“The roads are in a deplorable state. At least you saw the sufferings and inconveniences faced by the communities living without any accessible road to their homes, markets, schools and other places. Nothing has been done.

“The road is in a bad shape, and ever since it was awarded to the contractor, nothing reasonable has been done. For us, we are helpless, and don’t know what to do next.

“I want the NDDC to follow up this road contract. When you award a contract, you should at least follow it up to see if it’s been done or not. I’m pleading with the NDDC and the Federal Government officials to pay an unscheduled visit to see the nature of the road they have contracted. That way, the contractors would be asked questions, and if need be, asked to return to site, depending on their findings.

“However, we’d like to see the road completed. Our community is the food basket of this LGA and beyond because we produce agricultural products in large quantities. But owing to the bad nature of the roads, our agricultural products can’t be transported beyond the community. We produce, consume and sell it to ourselves and many of the perishable ones get wasted because of the deplorable state of the roads. These roads mean a lot to this community.”

Another resident, a lawyer and youth leader in Ezinmba autonomous community, PC Obasi shared the same sentiment.

Obasi said that Ezinmba is one of the communities that made up the Dimneze political ward.

“This bad spot is called the Emelogara Road. As you can see, there is no vehicular presence here. I mean no vehicle tries to ply this road because any vehicle trying to ply the road is deemed to be on a suicide mission. To say the road is in a deplorable state is an understatement