Umuahia–Ikwuano–Ikot Ekpene Road: Investigations Reveal Earlier Federal Intervention

Contrary to claims by the administration of Governor Alex Otti of Abia State which listed the Umuahia–Ikwuano–Ikot Ekpene federal road among projects newly initiated by his government, emerging facts have shed light on the true origin of the project and the years of prior efforts that led to significant progress on the highway.

Findings indicate that the rehabilitation of the critical interstate road linking Umuahia in Abia State to Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State predates the current administration and was facilitated through federal legislative intervention as far back as 2016.

The project was originally attracted through the efforts of former lawmaker Sam Onuigbo, who represented the Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives of Nigeria. His intervention reportedly led to the commencement of rehabilitation works on the long-neglected federal highway.

Rep Sam Onuigbo; Former Lawmaker Ikwuano Umuahia Federal Constituency

Over the years, construction giant Hartland Construction Company Limited handled the project under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Works, with sources indicating that approximately 25 kilometres of the road had already been rehabilitated before the recent announcement by the Abia State government.

However, controversy arose after Governor Otti’s administration publicly flagged off work on the road, presenting it as part of projects initiated by the state government.

The development drew criticism from Onuigbo, who expressed dissatisfaction with the announcement, arguing that portraying the road as a fresh initiative undermines years of advocacy and legislative work that attracted federal attention and funding to the project.

Seeking clarification amid the conflicting claims, Dailytrailnews reporter embarked on a fact-finding visit to the office of the Controller of Works of the Federal Ministry of Works in Abia State, where the Controller, Chidi Uwaeziozi, provided further insight into the status of the project.

According to Uwaeziozi, the Federal Government last year restructured the contract by dividing it into two phases in order to accelerate completion.

He explained that Phase One, which remains under the Federal Government, is still being handled by Hartland Construction Company and is currently nearing completion.

“Sometime early last year, the Federal Government rescoped the project into Phase One and Phase Two.

The original contractor is still on site because Phase One, which is under the Federal Government, still has about 1.5 kilometres left to be completed,” Uwaeziozi said.

He added that the contractor is legally obligated to complete that remaining section before exiting the site.

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Uwaeziozi further disclosed that Phase Two of the project now falls under the responsibility of the Abia State Government, as he explained that the phases though staggered, leave the state government’s involvement to begin from points where Hartland Construction Company ends.

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The clarification suggests that the ongoing work by Hartland Construction Company is part of the federal government’s remaining obligation on the project which counters the insinuations of a fresh construction effort initiated by the state government.

The revelation raises questions about the characterization of the recent ceremony as a “flag-off,” since construction work had already been ongoing for years and had recorded substantial progress before the current administration’s intervention.

Observers note that in standard project management practice, a “flag-off” typically signals the commencement of a new project rather than the continuation of an existing one.

For residents and road users who have long endured the deplorable state of the highway, the political debate over credit may matter less than the timely completion of the road.

However, the emerging facts highlight the importance of transparency and proper acknowledgment of previous efforts in major infrastructure projects that span multiple administrations and levels of government.

As work continues on the remaining sections of the Umuahia–Ikwuano–Ikot Ekpene road, stakeholders say clarity on the scope of responsibilities between the Federal Government and the Abia State Government will be critical to ensuring the project’s full completion and avoiding further controversy.

Investigations by our reporter revealed that the Ikot Ekpene and Obot Akara section of the Akwa-Ibom State segment of the road has been done by the same Hartland Nigeria Ltd contracted by the federal government.

Further critical investigation revealed that from Ikwuano Local Government portion the villages remaining are part of Ugboebelle, Ekebedi, Awomukwu, Ariam Alala, and Ariam Eluelu.

Read more details below 👇👇

Who Really Started the Umuahia–Ikwuano–Ikot Ekpene Road Reconstruction?

The recent flag-off of the rehabilitation of the Umuahia–Ikwuano–Ikot Ekpene Federal Highway by the Abia State Government has reignited debate over the true origin of the project and the individuals who played key roles in bringing federal attention to the road.
While the current administration in Abia State has stepped in to complete the project, available records show that the reconstruction effort began years earlier through federal intervention championed by former lawmaker for Ikwuano/Umuahia North and south Federal Constituency, Rep. Sam Onuigbo.

This report examines the history of the road project, the interventions that led to its reconstruction, and the stage at which the Abia State Government eventually took over.

A STRATEGIC FEDERAL HIGHWAY IN DECLINE

The Umuahia–Ikwuano–Ikot Ekpene road is a vital federal corridor linking Abia State to Akwa Ibom State and the broader South-South region. The highway connects major communities such as Umuahia, Umudike, Amawom, Oboro and Ikot Ekpene.
Stretching approximately 49 kilometres, the road serves as a key economic route for farmers, traders and commuters moving goods between the South-East and South-South.

For years, however, the road deteriorated into one of the worst highways in the region, with large sections becoming nearly impassable, prompting widespread complaints from residents and motorists.

THE 2016 LEGISLATIVE INTERVENTION
The turning point in the campaign to rehabilitate the road came on May 26, 2016, when Sam Onuigbo, then the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, raised a motion on the floor of the House of Representatives of Nigeria drawing attention to the deplorable state of the highway.

In the motion, the lawmaker highlighted the economic and safety implications of the road’s collapse and called on the Federal Government to intervene urgently.

Following the motion, Onuigbo engaged directly with the then Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, pushing for immediate federal action. Precisely on 14 June 2016, he met with the Fashola.

The engagement prompted the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to carry out emergency palliative repairs on the worst sections of the road.
This marked the first formal federal response to the road’s collapse after years of neglect.

First Rehabilitation Flag-Off in 2016
Federal response came later that year.
On December 16, 2016, the first official rehabilitation intervention on the road was flagged off at Okweukwu in Oboro, Ikwuano Local Government Area.
The event was attended by Sam Onuigbo and then Senator representing Abia Central, Theodore Orji.

The initial intervention was executed through the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, focusing mainly on emergency repairs and stabilization of the most dangerous portions of the highway.

Although this phase did not involve full reconstruction, it marked the first federal rehabilitation effort on the road after years of neglect.

Major Federal Reconstruction Contract in 2019

The project gained more traction in 2019 when the Federal Government under Muhammadu Buhari approved a major reconstruction contract for the highway.
The contract was awarded to two construction firms:
Hartland Nigeria Limited
Raycon & Company Nigeria Limited
The reconstruction covered the entire 49-kilometre stretch of the Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene federal road.
This development followed sustained advocacy by Onuigbo, who had continued to lobby federal authorities and ensure the project was captured in federal budget allocations.

PROGRESS RECORDED BEFORE THE STATE GOVERNMENT’S INTERVENTION
Despite the contract award, progress on the road was slow due to funding constraints that affected many federal infrastructure projects across the country.

ADDITIONAL FEDERAL FUNDING EFFORTS
The Federal Government later attempted to finance the project through:
NNPCL Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme
This was part of attempts to accelerate funding after years of slow progress due to budgetary constraints.
Nevertheless, significant sections of the road were completed and work still ongoing.
By the time discussions began about state intervention, approximately 24.5 kilometres of the road had already been reconstructed, including several critical segments within both Abia and Akwa Ibom states.

Drainage systems, culverts and erosion control structures were also constructed in parts of the corridor to address long-standing flooding problems.

Completed Sections Included
FMC Umuahia – ORPET axis
Streams of Joy – Ahieke
Government College – Mandy Filling Station
ABSU Campus – National Root Crops Research Institute area
Amawom – Isiala Oboro section
Ikot Ekpene – Obot Akara section in Akwa Ibom
Drainage systems and erosion control were also completed in several locations, including major gully reclamation at Amawom community.

FEDERAL APPROVAL FOR STATE TAKEOVER
In 2025, the Federal Government under Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved a new arrangement allowing the Abia State Government to step in and complete the remaining sections of the road.

This decision followed continued deterioration of unfinished portions and the slow pace of federal funding.
Under the arrangement, the state government would execute the remaining work and later seek reimbursement from the Federal Government.

THE FACTS AT A GLANCE
Total road length: About 49 km
Project first flagged off: December 16, 2016
Major reconstruction contract awarded: 2019
Kilometres completed before state takeover: About 24.5 km
Remaining section taken over by Abia State: About 25 km
The Abia State Government’s intervention therefore represents the completion phase of an ongoing federal road project rather than the commencement of a fresh reconstruction.

CONCLUSION
The available records indicate that the reconstruction of the Umuahia–Ikwuano–Ikot Ekpene federal highway began with federal intervention triggered by the legislative advocacy of Sam Onuigbo in 2016.

While the Abia State Government under Alex Otti has taken steps to complete the project, the evidence suggests that the initiative itself predates the current administration and forms part of a longer federal infrastructure effort.