By Bright Eluagu
The Special Adviser to the Speaker of IMHA on inter-government affairs whose office spearheaded the award of road contracts in Ihitte/Uboma LGA, Hon Dan Orji has been accused of allegedly mismanaging the sum of N54 million for the construction of rural roads in the area.
According to our reporter who has been monitoring the road construction in the area, the road contracts were awarded last year to Judadaco Construction Company Ltd at the cost of N250 million after grading the said roads, the contractor disappeared thereby leaving the residents of the area in danger as they find it difficult to pass through the roads.
The roads mapped out for construction according to our investigation include; Isinweke Umuitu Eturugo Spring Water Road to Ekikpa Market Square, Oriembara Umuezegwu/Odonkwume Road, Onuawa Ikperejere/Abueke Road, Aminyi Ekikpe Road and Umunohu Amakohia/Umuderim Obom Road among others.
Speaking to Imo Trumpeta on the situation, an indigene of the area, Chief Mikel Njoku said that it is unfortunate that some people would hijack the money for the construction of roads in the area, noting that the contractors who are handling the road projects in Ihitte/Uboma only did skeletal work and disappeared.
He further said that since the roads were graded, no other work has been done on it, and wondered where the 54 million went to.
Chief Njoku also pointed out that as a result of the abandonment of the road projects in the area, indigenes now find it difficult to pass through the roads, and called for government intervention.
He challenged Hon. Dan Orji to come and explain where he kept the N54m that was given to him for road construction in the area.
Efforts to get the reaction of Hon. Dan Orji proved abortive as his phone rang without response; even the text messages sent to him were not replied.
