Politics

Why World Bank Terminates N27b NEWMAP Project In Abia Revealed

Published

4 years ago

July 29, 2021

Dr Uchenna Okere, the National President, Abia Professionals Association has revealed how World Bank terminated N27b Newmap project in Abia state under Okezie Ikpeazu administration in 2015.

Okere said that Dr Okezie Ikpeazu with the then economic team headed by Obinna Oriaku went straight to the World Bank country office in Abuja for presentation on the state of poor infrastructure in Aba and Abia state in general.

According to him, Abia was a pariah state as most donor agencies had before then cancelled or withdrawn their support to Abia State because of many reasons which may not be necessary now.

He said the world bank decided to support the state by including Abia State in many of their developmental projects plans which NEWMAP is one of them.

“After lots of presentations and engagements world Bank through Federal Ministry of Finance and NEWMAP awarded the contract for $56m ( Fifty six million dollars) N27b at then exchange rate to today’s N34b to Heatland/ Setraco Nigeria Ltd for Erosion and flood water management of Porth Harcourt road/ Urratta and Obohia /Ngwa road project.”

“This job entails underground tunneling of flood water from Uratta crisscrossing Obohia / Ngwa road to the Ogbo hill river and construction of Ngwa road and other adjoining roads.”

He stated that the technical aspect of the contract which include the underground tunneling was abandoned by the contractor and the designs of this important project were altered by the contractor in collaboration with some officials of the state government.

“The World Bank and Minstry of Finance rose from their meeting last week with a decision to terminate/ determine this contract that would have solved the perennial flooding problems of Aba because of fraud / greed and incompetence of the state government.”

The statement added: “The implication is that since last month, as witnessed by residents of Ngwa road, there is no job going on at the site, as World Bank has stopped the work and is currently auditing the project which will determine their next line of action.

“This is another lost opportunity by Abia State government to greed and incompetence from the same government that has been trumpeting sincerity of purpose in their dealings.

“We call on World Bank to kindly re-award this job to a more competent company and for EFCC to immediately commence investigations on how the funds were misappropriated and the officials involved.

“This is also a call on Abia elders to know that such opportunity comes only once”, the statement read.

Politics

Rivers: Fubara Cancelled 10,000 Jobs I Initiated For Youths – Wike Alleges

Published

3 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Editor

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike, has accused Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State cancelling an employment process undertaken by his (Wike’s) administration which engaged 10,000 youths of the state.

Wike made this allegation on Wednesday at Ahoada main Town, during the ‘Renewed Hope Family thank you visit’ to Ahoada East Local Government Area.

He said his administration had employed 10,000 youths into different sectors of the state’s economy, but regretted that Fubara, his successor, sacked the beneficiaries.

He slammed Fubara for claiming the construction of Ahoada-Omoku and Emohua-Kalabari Road, which he said he had made 70 percent payment before handing over, describing the governor as “a bad child”.

“When I decided to dualise this Ahoada road, people thought it was impossible. But by the grace of God, today, Ahoada East, Ahoada Town, is coming back to be the city it is supposed to be. When I was a narcissist, I finished phase one of this dualisation.

“Then I flagged off phase two, which would end up in Omoku. The job was given the same day as the one of Emohua to the Kalabari area.

“I gave it to Julius Berger and we signed an agreement for Julius Berger to collect N4 billion every month from our IGR. The total amount of that road, and the one from Emohua to the Kalabari area, was about N80 something billion. So I said, if they collect four billion every month, that would give them 48 billion. That in two years time, they would have completed,” Wike said.

Politics

Amaechi: Buhari’s Administration Was Hell For Me – Wike

Published

4 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Editor

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Nyesom Wike has said the administration of late President Mohammadu Buhari was like hell for him.

Wike, who addressed members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ahoada East Local Government Area, LGA of Rivers State on Wednesday, said a minister from the state tried to frustrate his government.

Wike was apparently referring to Rotimi Amaechi, who served as the Minister of Transportation during the immediate past administration.

The FCT minister said despite the moves, his administration remained focused and committed to the people of Rivers State.

He said, “When I was governor, the administration of our late President Mohammadu Buhari was hell for me.

“A minister who is from here, tried to make sure we didn’t move forward but by the grace of God, we were focused and made more impacts.

“Governance is not just about awarding contracts, it is about relating with people. Anybody can award a contract but the capacity for you to settle issues and meander when there is a problem.”

Politics

2027: Watch Out For My Anointed Candidate – Wike Tells Supporters

Published

4 hours ago

January 7, 2026

Editor

Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, has urged his supporters in Rivers State to watch out for his anointed candidate for the state’s governorship election in 2027.

Wike spoke on Wednesday in Ahoada East Local Government Area, LGA of Rivers State, while addressing supporters of the All Progressives Congress, APC and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

He urged the supporters to observe the movement of APC and PDP chairmen, as well as other leaders loyal to him to know his anointed candidate.

The minister appealed to the supporters to support President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid.

He said, “The other one as it relates to the State, we will come back. Watch where your council chairman is going.

“Watch where the PDP and APC chairman are going, anywhere you see them, that is where we are”.

Wike had vowed to ensure that his estranged political godson, Siminalayi Fubara, was not re-elected in 2027.