Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has sharply criticized the administration of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu over the failed Port Harcourt Road project in Aba, alleging that $29 million was squandered without tangible results.
Speaking during the inspection of ongoing construction work on the same road, Otti said that in 2017, the Ikpeazu-led government awarded the Port Harcourt Road contract for N9.8 billion and fully disbursed the amount. However, no significant progress was made on the project.
“So, listen to the response. In 2017, they awarded this Port Harcourt Road. The amount at that time was N9.8 billion. And they paid out the entire money. But the road was not done,” Otti told reporters.
He further broke down the value of the money at the time, explaining that the average exchange rate in 2017 was about N333 to the dollar. “Now, if you apply that, the N9.8 billion was actually USD29 million equivalent,” he said.
Governor Otti also addressed criticisms over the current cost of the road reconstruction under his administration, which now stands at N36.5 billion. He stated that while some detractors have raised concerns about the cost, they fail to understand the economic realities and currency devaluation since 2017.
“In 2025, the road cost N36.5 billion, and they started making noise. So I said, since you people understand mathematics…,” Otti remarked sarcastically.
The Port Harcourt Road has long been a vital but deteriorating infrastructure link in Aba. Otti assured residents that his administration remains committed to completing the road project with transparency and quality delivery.
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