Onuigbo, Ubani in Heated Dispute Over Status of Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene Road

A clash of opinions has erupted over the status of the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene federal highway, with Rep. Sam Onuigbo, a member of the North East Development Commission (NEDC) Governing Board, rebuffing recent claims made by senior lawyer and Labour Party (LP) chieftain, Monday Ubani, SAN, regarding the alleged abandonment of the road project.

Ubani, in a petition to President Bola Tinubu dated April 7, raised concerns that the vital Trunk A road, linking Abia and Akwa Ibom states, had become nearly impassable due to a purported halt in construction. He described the road as a “death trap.”

However, Onuigbo, during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, dismissed Ubani’s claims as “false” and misleading, accusing him of attempting to undermine the Federal Government’s efforts to enhance critical infrastructure in the Southeast region. Onuigbo emphasized that the road project has been actively progressing despite its challenges.

“The Federal Executive Council (FEC), under President Tinubu’s leadership, approved an augmentation of N14.37 billion on February 3, 2025, to continue the project,” Onuigbo stated. “Ubani’s assertion of abandonment, just two months after this approval, is an outright falsehood that disregards the tangible progress made.”

Onuigbo further highlighted that since June 2023, following President Tinubu’s assumption of office, 8.42 kilometers of the road’s most deteriorated sections have been rehabilitated, and 4.47 kilometers of concrete drainage work completed. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, 880 meters of asphalt binder course, 3.22 kilometers of wearing course, and 1.53 kilometers of additional concrete drains were laid.

“To describe this important artery as a ‘death trap’ is not just an exaggeration but a deliberate distortion of facts meant to incite panic rather than constructive dialogue,” he added.

The NEDC board member also pointed out that Ubani had previously made similar allegations to former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021, as well as against former Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, in June 2023, which he also deemed baseless.

Onuigbo questioned the motives behind Ubani’s claims, hinting that they might be politically charged, considering Ubani’s affiliations as an LP chieftain, an appointee in Abia State, and a Senior Special Adviser to Senate President Godswill Akpabio.

“Instead of resorting to misleading claims, Ubani should base his statements on facts, as one would expect from a respected legal practitioner,” Onuigbo stated. “It is ironic that someone benefiting from an APC-led government would seek to undermine it for petty political gain.”

Onuigbo concluded by reaffirming the Tinubu administration’s commitment to equitable development under its Renewed Hope Agenda and assured the public that the road project remains on track.

“We urge the public to ignore false narratives. Verified updates on the progress of the project can be found at the Federal Ministry of Works,” he said. “The administration’s record speaks for itself, and no amount of misinformation can change the reality on the ground.”