Widows and relatives of 16 Umuahia-based traders who lost their lives in a road accident along the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway have appealed to the Abia State Government to fulfil its promise of financial assistance, eight months after the tragedy.
The traders died in a fatal accident on February 15, 2026, while returning from a traditional marriage ceremony of one of their colleagues in Enugu State.
Speaking with journalists at the ABN TV studio in Umuahia on Monday, the bereaved families expressed disappointment over the delay, saying they had yet to receive the financial support promised by the state government following the incident.
According to them, several visits to the Abia State Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection have yielded no positive results, as officials repeatedly assured them that the assistance approved by Governor Alex Otti was still being processed.
One of the widows, Mrs. Jane Uzoamaka Nwankwo, who lost her husband in the accident, broke down in tears while recounting the difficulties faced by the affected families.
She alleged that information available to them suggested that Governor Otti had already approved the assistance, raising concerns about the prolonged delay in disbursement.
“As of October 2026, we have not received anything. We keep hearing rumours that the state government has released the money, but the truth is that none of us has received any financial assistance,” she lamented.
Mrs. Nwankwo disclosed that some families had to borrow money to bury their loved ones after waiting unsuccessfully for the promised support.
She appealed to Governor Otti to personally intervene and ensure that the assistance reaches the intended beneficiaries.
Another widow, who identified herself simply as Mrs. Amarachi, narrated how she lost both her husband and mother in the accident, adding that her grandmother also died after reportedly suffering shock upon hearing the tragic news.
Amarachi appealed to the government to clarify the status of the promised assistance and ensure its prompt disbursement.
“Please, if the government has actually released the money, they should come out and tell us. If anyone is withholding it, that person should release it because we urgently need the assistance,” she pleaded.
She recalled seeing herself in an online video when government officials visited the affected families and promised them support shortly after the tragedy.
“I saw myself online the day government officials came to make the promise, but up till now, I have not received anything,” she said.
The bereaved families explained that the loss of their loved ones, many of whom were breadwinners, had left them struggling to meet their daily needs and care for their children.
Reacting to the development, the Abia State Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs. Ngozi Felix, confirmed that the promised financial assistance had not yet been disbursed.
The commissioner explained that the ministry was still processing the assistance, assuring the families that payments would be made directly to the beneficiaries without intermediaries once the process was completed.
She appealed for patience and understanding, noting that the state government had already intervened by settling various hospital bills arising from the accident.
“I appeal to them for patience and understanding, as this is a sheer act of benevolence on the part of government after settling their various hospital bills,” Mrs. Felix explained.
Despite the commissioner’s assurances, the affected families renewed their appeal to Governor Otti to expedite the process, stressing that the prolonged delay had worsened their financial difficulties.
They expressed hope that the governor’s intervention would bring much-needed relief to the widows, children and other dependants left behind by the 16 traders.
ABN TV reports that the families are seeking urgent assistance to help them cope with the economic and emotional impact of the tragedy.
