The Abia State government has revealed that the World Bank project facility of $56million to the state is domiciled in a separate account and cannot be independently accessed by the state government as it is meant for all World Bank-related projects in the State since 2016.
The projects include Umuagu–Isingwu, Umuezegu Isiala Ngwa, Nsulu and the Ndiegoro flood challenges to be executed through NEWMAP.
This is even as the government reiterates its commitment towards completing Ngwa, Obohia, Ohanku, and Port Harcourt Roads as well as properly channelling the Umuagbai pond to control flooding of the areas.
The Abia State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu who stated this in a chat with newsmen said the Ndiegoro flood mediation project signed in April 2020 had the site handed over to the contractors on the 6th of June, 2020, but could not start immediately due to the global lockdown necessitated by Covid-19 and the ENDSARS saga, until January 2021.
According to the Commissioner, Governor Ikpeazu since assumption of office in 2015 has made steady progress in saving the state especially Aba from the ugly incidents of flood disaster through the construction of concrete drainage systems on the roads built by his administration, partial dredging of Waterside for the collection of storm water in the city.
He said the governor approached the World Bank through NEWMAP on Ndiegoro flooding challenge which according to him was why Late Sam Mbakwe wept publicly in 1982, and had not been attended to by any past administration except now.
