Abia Indigenous Contractor Disputes Gov Otti On Dozie Way, Umuopara Ring Road Project, Alleges breach of contract

Abia State born indigenous contractor and Chairman Worldwide Environmental Technologies Limited Sir Ako Obioma has faulted Governor Alex Otti on the commissioning of the reconstructed 1.3 km Dozie Way, Umuahia and the award of contract for the completion of the ongoing Umuopara Ring Road project.

According to Sir Ako Obioma, Gov Alex Otti failed to fulfil his promise on assumption of office to offset Abia State government indebtedness to his companies, and the continuation of all their ongoing projects in the State including the Umuopara ring road which had attained fifty per cent completion level before now.

Addressing the journalists in Umuahia over what he termed the injustices and damages he has endured in his business relationship with the Abia State government over the years, Sir Ako Obioma said that his companies completed many roads and infrastructure projects, while some are still ongoing during the tenure of Sen T. A Orji, but was not paid which led to the State accumulating huge debts to his companies.

Due to inability of the State government to pay the debt, in 2016 sir Obioma and his companies took Abia State Government to court, which Abia State reversed to arbitration panel. Instructively, he said in October 2022 the arbitration award was released and Abia State government was mandated to pay his companies a total of N2.7 billion. This was subsequently entered as judgement of the court by Abia State High Court in May 2024, according to available documents.

He informed that Umuopara Ring road and Dozie Way are among the projects in the arbitration. However, while the Umuopara ring road was struck out at arbitration because it was ongoing, the Abia State government was mandated to pay his companies a certified sum of N581m for the Dozie Way, and to raise their completion certificate for balance of N930million contract sum.

He said “another shocker was the Governor’s commissioning of the same IBB way nicknamed Dozie way which was a virgin road with 2.2 metre Hill that was awarded to us in 2013, and was completed in 2016 along other adjoining roads to Ahiaeke, Umuana, Lodu and new timber market at the contract sum of N930,604,050 which we are yet to be paid a kobo against the arbitration and court judgement.

“Yes, we understand that the government recently overlaid asphalt on the IBB (Dozie) way for a whopping N750m. It’s disheartening that Dr Alex Otti could spend N750m for asphalt overlay of 1.3km of the 4.4km road, yet went to court and filed stay of execution for paltry N581m the arbitration and court mandated the state government to pay us as part of the N930m, for the 4.4km road we constructed without mobilization.

Sir Ako Obioma disclosed that his legal team wrote to the Commissioner for works, while it copied the Governor drawing their attention to the legal implications of awarding the Umuopara Ring road and asked that it should be expunged in their tender.

That to his greatest surprise not only did Gov Otti announced that he has awarded the road project, but also stated that he would flag it off on 3rd December, 2024. He added that they are yet to know if the Governor means cost review of the outstanding project to them or that he has terminated their contract and reawarded same project.

He said that in order to avoid unnecessary skirmishes he is inviting the press on a tour of the Umuopara ring road for assessment and to determine if truly the remaining project is 6.9km as claimed by the government, and to find out the reason for reawarding the project.

“It’s not only this Umuopara ring road and IBB (Dozie) way that I have faced similar faith, there are so many other such roads in the state, which the government claimed to have rehabilitated through direct labour and paid themselves. However, we shall continue to dialogue with the government in our demand for professional and constitutional procedure in their decisions and actions but where all fails, we shall take appropriate steps for justice to prevail.

However, he said “I’m very happy for His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti’s intention to complete the Umuopara ring road but I urge him to be magnanimous with application of TRUST and GOOD CONSCIENCE.