The Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Investigative Council has released a statement responding to the allegations of poor construction of the Abariba-Ohafia to Ndi Okoroc Road in Abia North Senatorial District, Abia State.

This statement, signed by the council’s convener, Comrade Nelson Ossaieze, was made available to newsmen on Tuesday following an investigation prompted by an online protest from Tochukwu Ogbuagu, an indigene of the area and a social media influencer with Kepukepu TV.

Ogbuagu, using video evidence, accused Swiber Africa Limited, the contractor responsible for the road construction, of substandard work, particularly in the extended section of the road. His video showing what appeared to be shoddy construction practices and the poor state of the road gained significant public attention, prompting the CSO Investigative Council to conduct an independent assessment.

According to the CSO Investigative Council, the road project was initially awarded for a 600-meter stretch, with a budget of ₦250 million. The project was funded as a constituency initiative by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, with the scope including the construction of the road and the installation of two side drains. This initial phase of the project, the council confirmed, was completed according to specifications and in compliance with the outlined bill of quantities. No major issues were raised concerning the original 600-meter stretch.

However, following the completion of the initial phase, the community, including traditional leaders, petitioned Senator Kalu to extend the road by an additional 400 meters. Responding to this request, Senator Kalu according to report, generously funded the extension with an additional ₦52 million, which was paid directly to Swiber Africa Limited. The council’s further revealed that the portion of the road funded for extension was the focus of the controversy, where concerns over poor construction were raised.

They also noted that while the original 600 meters were constructed to the prescribed standards, the extended section exhibited signs of premature wear and tear. The extended 400-meter stretch showed inadequate road layering and drainage issues, leading to the road deteriorating at a much faster rate than expected. These findings were corroborated with local feedback, as residents noted issues such as pooling water and visible cracks along the newly constructed stretch.

In its statement, the CSO Investigative Council stressed that the deficiencies observed were primarily in the extension, which was managed and funded separately by Senator Kalu, and was not part of the original contract monitored by the Federal Cooperative College Oji River, which had oversight responsibility for the initial project. The council confirmed that the college had no involvement in overseeing the extension works, thereby absolving them of any responsibility for the alleged deficiencies.

It however, called on Swiber Africa Limited to address the substandard work done on the extended section, urging the contractor to carry out urgent remediation work while recommending resurfacing the road, reinforcing its layers, and improving the drainage system to meet the required engineering specifications.

The Council stressing the need for a thorough investigation before publicizing such issues, urged Senator Kalu to work with the contractor to address problems in the extension, ensuring its quality matches the original project.

Furthermore, the council commend the Federal Cooperative College Oji River for its commitment to transparency and accountability in public infrastructure projects. They emphasized the need for more support for independent oversight and called for future constituency projects to include more robust monitoring mechanisms to prevent similar issues.

Finally the council reaffirmed that, while the original project met expectations, the extension funded by Senator Kalu needed to be reviewed and appeal to the Senator to look into this matter urgently.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed the petition seeking the recall of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central, stating that it failed to meet the constitutional requirements.

In a statement released on Thursday via its official X handle, INEC clarified that the petition did not satisfy Section 69(a) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates the signatures of more than half of the registered voters in a constituency for a recall process to proceed.

During its regular weekly meeting, INEC reviewed and approved a report on the physical count of the signatures submitted with the petition. The commission explained that for a recall to be valid, at least 237,278 signatures—representing more than half of the 474,554 registered voters in Kogi Central—were required. However, INEC’s verification exercise found that only 208,132 signatures, accounting for 43.86% of the electorate, were submitted—29,146 short of the constitutional threshold.

“Consequently, the petition has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution. Therefore, no further action shall be taken on the recall of the senator,” the statement read.

In accordance with Clause 2(d) of the 2024 Regulations and Guidelines for Recall, INEC has issued a Public Notice announcing the petition’s failure. A copy of the notice has also been sent to the Presiding Officer of the Senate.

The commission reiterated its commitment to fairness and transparency, explaining that the process followed three key steps: verification of petition submission, notification of the senator, and signature review. INEC has made the full breakdown of the signature review—disaggregated by local government areas—available on its website and social media platforms for public access.

With the petition failing to meet legal requirements, the recall process for Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan has officially been terminated.

Port Harcourt, Nigeria – The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), has annulled all ongoing procurement and tender processes initiated by the suspended administration of Sir Siminialayi Fubara.

In a public announcement issued on Thursday, the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika, stated that all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) involved in procurement activities in 2025 must refund any fees already collected from contractors.

Decision Rooted in Legal Ruling

The directive follows a recent Supreme Court judgment that upheld the Appeal Court’s ruling in Suit No. CA/ABJ/CV/133/2024. The court’s decision highlighted the absence of a valid Appropriation Law for the fiscal year, prompting the cancellation of all related financial commitments.

The statement read: “In adherence to the Supreme Court judgment upholding the Appeal Court ruling in Suit No. CA/ABJ/CV/133/2024, and in the absence of an Appropriation Law, the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, CFR, wishes to notify the general public that all procurement and tender processes carried out by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) during the period are hereby cancelled.”

Immediate Refund of Fees Ordered

All MDAs that had conducted tender processes for projects were instructed to “refund such tender fees to the respective contractors IMMEDIATELY.” The directive will remain in effect until a state spending plan is approved.

The decision is aimed at restoring fiscal order in Rivers State and ensuring compliance with financial and legal regulations.