Former member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, Rep. Sir Sam Onuigbo, has strongly rebuked Barr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani SAN over what he described as “false and sensational claims” concerning the state of the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene Road project.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, Onuigbo faulted a petition submitted by Ubani to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on April 7, 2025, alleging that the federal road project had been abandoned. The lawmaker dismissed the claims as misleading and aimed at discrediting the efforts of the Tinubu-led administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The claims in the so-called petition are erroneous and deliberately crafted to stoke public disaffection,” Onuigbo said. “They misrepresent the actual state of affairs and do a great disservice to the Federal Government and the people.”
He disclosed that contrary to the claim of abandonment, significant progress has been made on the project since June 2023. According to him, 8.42 kilometers of severely damaged sections have been reconstructed, 4.47 kilometers of drainage work completed, and in the first quarter of 2025 alone, over 5.6 kilometers of road and drainage works were executed.
Onuigbo also highlighted a Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval on February 3, 2025, which augmented the project’s budget by N14.37 billion to ensure continuity of work on the strategic road linking Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Cross River, and even extending towards Cameroon.
He expressed concern over what he described as Ubani’s pattern of misinformation, recalling similar petitions in 2021 and 2023 that were later proven false. “It is unfortunate that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria would continuously peddle inaccuracies on a project of national interest,” Onuigbo said.
He also questioned Ubani’s motives, suggesting political undertones behind the criticism. “It is well known that Ubani is both a chieftain of the Labour Party in Abia State and a member of the Abia State University Governing Council, yet he also holds a federal appointment under the APC-led government as a Special Adviser to the Senate President. Such contradictions may explain his penchant for playing to the gallery,” Onuigbo stated.
He reaffirmed that Hartland Construction Company remains on-site, executing the project despite bureaucratic and funding challenges typical of large-scale federal infrastructure projects. He praised the intervention of NNPCL and other stakeholders in sustaining the momentum.
Rep. Onuigbo concluded by urging stakeholders and members of the public to verify information from the Federal Ministry of Works and avoid being swayed by what he called “ill-intentioned rhetoric.”
He also commended President Tinubu for his unwavering commitment to infrastructure development and appealed for continued support to ensure the road’s timely completion.
“We thank President Tinubu and urge him to sustain the funding of this vital road network. The Renewed Hope Agenda is yielding results and no amount of misinformation can erase the strides being made,” he said.
