Abia Governor Accuses Predecessor Ikpeazu Of Paying N9.8 Billion For Undelivered Road Project

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has accused his predecessor, Okezie Ikpeazu, of paying N9.8 billion to a contractor for the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road in Aba—a project he claims was never executed.

Otti made the claim on Wednesday at Umuagbai Secondary School, Aba, during a thanksgiving and carnival event held by the Aba community to celebrate the completion of the road and other infrastructure projects under his administration.

According to Otti, the contract was awarded in 2017, but despite the full payment, no work was done. He noted that critics of his administration, including former officials, had questioned the current cost of the road project without acknowledging the earlier failed attempt.

“In 2017, they awarded this Port Harcourt Road project for N9.8 billion and paid the full amount, but the road wasn’t built,” Otti said. “Now in 2025, it cost N36.5 billion to get it done and they started making noise. At an average exchange rate of N333 to the dollar in 2017, that N9.8 billion was equivalent to $29 million.”

The governor also revealed that 20 electric buses recently acquired by the state would be deployed within the next two months to improve public transportation.

In a separate announcement, Otti commended a tricycle (keke) driver in Aba who returned N2.4 million forgotten by a passenger. He praised the driver’s honesty and rewarded him for the rare act of integrity.