Abia community demands answer from Reps Dep Speaker over controversial ₦348m garri plant

By Francis Ajuonuma

A controversy has emerged in Abia State over the whereabouts of a Federal Government-funded garri processing plant valued at ₦348.1 million, with residents of Umuhu Ezechi community in Bende Federal Constituency demanding proof of the project’s existence.

The project, reportedly worth ₦348,129,596.34, was said to have been approved for execution in Umuhu Ezechi.

However, community members insist that they have been unable to identify the location of the facility despite claims by supporters of Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, , that the project has been completed and is awaiting commissioning.

The concerns were raised by an indigene of the community, Emenike Okorie, who challenged those behind the project to publicly identify the facility and allow residents to verify its existence.

“Where is the ₦348,129,596.34 garri processing plant reportedly executed in our community?” Okorie asked.

According to him, publicly available records indicate that funds for the project were released by the Federal Government for the construction of the processing facility in the community.

He said if the project had indeed been completed as claimed, it should not be difficult for officials or promoters to provide its exact location.

“If that is indeed the case, then this should be the easiest question to answer. Where is the facility located?” he queried.

Okorie said he and several members of the community had made efforts to locate the project without success.

“As an indigene of Umuhu Ezechi, I have made deliberate efforts to locate this project. Many members of the community have done the same. Yet, no one has been able to point to the existence of a garri processing plant worth over ₦348 million,” he said.

The development has sparked fresh debate over transparency and accountability in the implementation of constituency projects and the management of public funds.

Residents argued that if the project had been completed and delivered to the community, there should be evidence of its location, operation or public handover.

“Was the project actually executed? If yes, why is its location unknown to the very people it was meant to serve?” Okorie asked.

He also questioned why there had been no public unveiling, commissioning exercise or evidence that the facility was operational.

“It is not about politics. It is about accountability. It is not about personalities. It is about stewardship,” he said.

The community maintained that citizens have a constitutional right to seek explanations on projects funded with public resources and insisted that such inquiries should not be construed as political attacks.

“The people of Umuhu Ezechi are not asking for miracles. They are simply asking to see a project allegedly built with ₦348 million of taxpayers’ money,” Okorie stated.

He added: “If the project exists, let its promoters proudly take the public there. If it does not, then the relevant authorities owe the people an explanation.”

As of the time of filing this report, there was no official response from the office of the Deputy Speaker or any government agency linked to the execution of the project.