Serious questions are mounting over the alleged mismanagement of public funds after ₦231.4 million reportedly released for a rural road project in Akwa Ibom State appears to have vanished without trace on the ground.
The project, awarded in December 2024 to Hard Harts Construction Ltd for the construction of the Abiakpo–Ikot Essien Ikono Road in Abak Local Government Area has been flagged as unexecuted despite full payment.
Findings reveal that the road remains in a deplorable state, riddled with waterlogged sections and lacking basic drainage infrastructure, resulting in persistent flooding during rainfall. Residents say the condition has not changed for over a decade, raising doubts about any recent government intervention.
Uptown Press reports that, locals expressed shock at reports of the disbursement, insisting they are unaware of any construction activity or contractor presence on the site.
The controversy has now put the implementing agency, Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute, under intense scrutiny, with calls for full disclosure on how the funds were utilised.
Residents describe the situation as emblematic of systemic accountability failures, where budgetary allocations fail to translate into tangible infrastructure, particularly in rural communities.
They demanded immediate investigation and transparency, warning that such lapses not only undermine public trust but also stall development in already underserved areas.
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