Brewing Fraud, Asset Stripping of Ukawu Water Scheme, is Gov Nwifuru Covering Up for Criminal Govt Officials?

 

 

In April 2008, the then Executive Governor of Ebonyi State, Chief Martin Elechi announced the award of contracts for the establishment of the  Oferekpe and Ukawu Water schemes.

The two mega projects  were initially valued at N8.9billion for the first phase which excluded piping and reticulation of water to various parts of the state. By February 2012, Governor Elechi again announced in an even with Ebonyi Professionals Forum in Abuja, that the project would gulp a total of N36 billion, the new figure according to the governor would include laying pipes that would stretch for 590 kilometres across the 13 local governments in the state. The combined output of the water schemes was projected to deliver 200, 000 litres of water to homes and businesses in Ebonyi State daily.

By 2013, the state government took a N16 billion bond from Nigeria’s capital market and among the items slated for the deployment of the bond was the completion on the water projects.

However, 11 years later in 2024 the water projects are yet to be completed. Water taps in Ebonyi State remain dry with residents continue pushing carts all around to buy water from private borehole owners, even the Government Houses depend on borehole for their water needs, this is despite the fact that Ebonyi State has a “functional” Ministry of Water Resources with full compliments of officers including a commissioner, Permanent Secretary, other staff, budgets, project equipment etc.

 

Eight Years of Governor Umahi

When Governor David Umahi took over power in in 2015, Ebonyi residents had hoped that the water scheme would be completed as reports had it that the Oferekpe segment was already completed, while the Ukawu segment was already at over 80% completion. However, despite the high expectations, Umahi’s administration never paid attention to the water project until January 2017, two years after he took over the reins of governance in the state, when he paid a visit to the Ukawu Water Scheme and in his characteristic braggadocio had on camera ordered the contractor handling the project, Ganza Engineering limited to immediately go back to site.

Umahi had said, “Tell Ganza to return to work immediately. We will schedule a meeting with the contractor for Friday.”

Despite the order of the governor, that was the very last time anything was said about the Ukawu or any other water project in Ebonyi State. Throughout the life of the 8-year tenure of Governor David Umahi, the public taps in Ebonyi State remained dry till he exited office in 2023.

 

Governor Ogbonnaya Nwifuru administration

 

The current governor of Ebonyi State, Hon. Francis Ogbonnaya Nwifuru can be rightly described as a homeboy who has been on ground in Abakaliki most of his life. Perhaps his homeboy status may have informed his mantra of “People’s Chatter of Needs” as a campaign slogan. Though the “Chatter of Needs” has never been clearly defined, one of the areas the government announced it is focusing on is the area of provision of water to the people of Ebonyi State.

According to a media statement issued on September 6, 2024 by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Monday Uzor, the governor was quoted to have announced that:

“It is our target to provide water to every home in the State. Oferekpe Water Scheme will start pumping water from the end of this month and water from the scheme will be reticulated to Izzi, Abakaliki, Ebonyi, Ezza North and Ezza South. In no distant time, Ukawu Water Scheme will also receive Government attention.”

 

“Old Abakaliki Water Scheme will come alive again. For instance, at the low lift here we are building a new pump house and the same thing is happening at the High lift at Juju Hill. They are cleaning and replacing obsolete facilities, while the Water Works reservoir has been fully reactivated.”

 

Earlier, on September 4, 2024, the Special Assistant to the Governor of New Media, Mr. Leo Oketa had in a statement written extensively on the how the government of Governor Nwifuru was tackling the water project in the state.  In the highly explanatory article, Mr. Oketa itemized efforts being made by the government to bring potable water back to Ebonyi homes.

 

According to Oketa, “Ebonyi State has five (5) water schemes, namely; Ezillo Water Treatment Plant, Oferekpe Water Scheme, Old Abakaliki, Ukawu and Ishiagu Water Schemes. For clarification purposes, the Old Abakaliki scheme is the low lift water facility at Onuebonyi river, via CAS gate, which supplies water to the hilltop and Iboko reservoirs.”

 

He goes ahead to shed light on the issues at stake over the years of non-availability of water to people living in Ebonyi State:

 

“Ebonyi State has five (5) water schemes, namely; Ezillo Water Treatment Plant, Oferekpe Water Scheme, Old Abakaliki, Ukawu and Ishiagu Water Schemes. For clarification purposes, the Old Abakaliki scheme is the low lift water facility at Onuebonyi river, via CAS gate, which supplies water to the hilltop and Iboko reservoirs.

 

“Some of the challenges encountered in getting Ezillo Water Scheme to function and reticulation of water into Abakaliki town was the issue of incessant broken pipes in many areas of the town. Given that for donkey years, water supply was abandoned, some residents built on water ways and pipes, while others had pipes destroyed. Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, through the State Ministry of Water Resources has continued to put these pipes in order to ensure there are no leakages. Quality water supply is on course in Abakaliki and the Ministry is always one call away to fix any identified broken pipes within the State.

Oferekpe Water Scheme

 

“The automated water treatment plant in Oferekpe has a production capacity of 100,000m3 per day. It is the largest water scheme East of Niger, built by the administration of His Excellency, Chief Martin Nwanchor Elechi. As at then, it cost the State a whooping N7.6bn.

 

“Since then, it has been left to gradual but steady decrepitude, till Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru gave an approval for its reactivation during the State Executive Council Meeting of Wednesday, July 3, 2024. He released funds and appointed Prince John Nwamgbo (SA Mining Development) to Chair the committee, set up for the reactivation of the plant.

 

“They evaluated the plant and discovered some parts to be a good shape, while others were not, especially the water pipeline. Particularly, they traced the pipeline from Oferekpe to Abakaliki and assessed the extent of the equipment needed to bring it back to life and vandalized items.

 

“Currently, intensive work is ongoing there at the plant. The issues at the scheme included; the infrastructure which includes fencing, pipeline, power transmission and the low lift.

 

“Procurement of the vandalized items for the machines and the pipelines have been made and the machines at the plant are now working and ready to pump. In terms of power, staff of EEDC are currently handling the transformer issues to ascertain the reason(s) for outage. Fencing will be done when the entire work has been completed.

 

“However, the major challenge remains the massive pipeline from Abakaliki through Ikwo to Oferekpe. The water infrastructure experienced series of vandalization. Valves and other equipment needed have all been procured and the engineering team is currently fixing the line from Abakaliki back to Oferekpe.

 

Ukawu Water Scheme and the Unfolding Fraud

 

The Ukawu Water Scheme is planned to supply water to all the parts of Ebonyi South Senatorial District, except Ivo Local Government which the Ishiagu Water Scheme will take care of. Other local governments including Onicha, Ohaozara, Afikpo North and Edda are all to supplied  water from Ukawu Mega water scheme.

 

However, in his explanatory article, Leo Oketa clearly states that, “Only Ukawu Water Scheme is yet to receive attention, but soon, it will be looked into.”

 

Why Ukawu Water Scheme has been singled out by the government for non-completion for now is yet undetermined. However, a more sinister plan for the water scheme initially planned to serve the people of Ebonyi South may be underway.

 

The Ukawu Community who all along has been looking forward to the completion of the water scheme was rather confronted by a letter dated July 30, 2024 and addressed to the Ukawu Autonomous community Town Union, Mr. James Eze Agalla; same letter was also copied to the traditional ruler of the community, HRH Eze Vincent Ajah requesting people of the community to cooperate with some people identified as officials of Ganza Engineering Nigeria limited, (the contractors handling the job) to dismantle the crane and other equipment on the site.

 

The letter addressed to the traditional ruler of Ukawu Autonomous community with refence number, EB/MOWR/AD29/1/35, with the title, RE: Release of Installed  Tower Cranes and Kia Pickup Van from Ohoffia Site, Ukawu Ukaba D.C, Onicha LGA  reads:

 

“sequel to a request made by Ganza Engineering limited to His Excellency in a letter number GZ/140/08082023/002G dated  8^th August, 2023 and a meeting held on 30^th July, 2024 between the Ministry of Water Resources and represntatives of Ganza Engineering Ltd with the Coordinator Ukaba DC, Ukawu Town Union President and the Youth Leader in attendance. Iam directed to convey the approval of the bHon. Commissioner Ministry of Water Resources for Ganza Engineering Ltd to dismantle and take away the tower cranes and  Kia Pickup van belonging to the company.

“You are also invited to note  that all items removed from the site should be documented for record purposes.

 

“Your kind cooperation in this regard  is highly solicited.

Please accept the warmest regards of the commissioner.

The letter was signed by “Comrade Patrick O. Ekwe JP” on behalf of the commissioner.

 

In an earlier letter dated 29^th February 2024 and signed by the same Comrade Patrick O. Ekwe seen by FACTSHEET, the Commissioner for Water Resources wrote to the contractors, Ganza Engineering alerting them that the Governor of Ebonyi State, Hon. Ogbonnaya Nwifuru had approved their request to take away their construction equipment from the site.

 

The letter with reference number, EB/MOWR//AD29/1/29 reads:

 

“I am directed to refer to your letter GZ/140/0808203/002G addressed to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Ebonyi State on the above subject and to convey the approval of His Excellency for you to dismantle your tower cranes from Ohoffia site.

 

“You are expected to liaise with the Ministry of Water Resources , Abakaliki, Ministry of Infrastructure, Abakaliki and Ohoffia Community Representatives to enable you dismantle the cranes in a peaceful manner.”

 

Checks on the website of the Ebonyi State Ministry of Water Resources revealed no information about the activities of the ministry.

In fact, the website is still displaying information emanating from the government of Governor David Umahi. The website (https://ebonyistate.gov.ng/Ministry/Water/Commissioner.html, https://ebonyistate.gov.ng/Ministry/Water/News.html) was last updated on January 2, 2023 with the New Year message of Governor David Umahi. There is nothing on the website that concerns the current plans of the government on water schemes in Ebonyi State.

Unsubstantiated Claims of Officials of Ebonyi State Government

 

FACTSHEET Investigations have, however, revealed that the entire process may have been an elaborate scam orchestrated by the state commissioner for Water Resources in connivance with other high-ranking officials of the  government and some elements within the Ukawu community to vandalise the water project.

 

In a swift turn of events, when the officials of the Ministry of Water Resources made attempt to cart away the construction equipment at the site, the people of community demanded to see proof that indeed that state government was indeed part of the plan to dismantle the construction equipment from the site.

 

Members of the community who spoke to FACTSHEET revealed that Commissioner for Water Resources arrived the community with two vans loaded with people in military camouflage, the community resisted the dismantling of the construction equipment which angered the contingent of the commissioner who in turn instructed the yet to be identified persons in military uniform to abduct the Town Union President, Mr. Eze James Agalla whom they accused of rallying the people of the community to resist the dismantling of the equipment.

 

The escalation of the crisis led to the invitation of the police who later arrested the Town Union President on October 20, 2024. Despite the torture the town union president went through the police detained him and for ten days without proper medical care.

 

 

Government Cover-up?

 

In a twist to the issue, all the Ebonyi State Government officials that were involved in the planned pillaging of the construction of equipment are all walking free while Ebonyi State Government has maintained a deafening silence on the matter.

 

The silence of the state government has led to the town union and people of Ukawu community to petition the Nigeria police urging the state Commissioner of Police to conduct proper investigation on the matter.

 

In a petition addressed to the Commissioner of Police Ebonyi State Command by Dr. Richard Utobo of Richbeke and Associates, an Abakaliki based law firm, the petitioners alleged that, Hon, Nkaa Chinedum Magnus (Commissioner for Water Resources),  Comrade Patrick O. Ekwe, Engr. Obasi Abara (Commissioner for Infrastructure), Mrs. Angela Nduka (PRO, Ministry of Water Resources), Engr. Ben (Managing Director, Ganza Engineering Limited, Lagos), and  Mr. Chika Nwangele (Coordinator, Ukaba Development Centre) and eight others for forcefully abducted the Town Union President and tortured him. The accused persons were also alleged to be behind the planned carting away of construction equipment at the Ukawu Water scheme as well as the abduction and torture of the Town Union President, Mr. James Eze Agalla. The petitioners are calling on the police authorities in Ebonyi State to  conduct proper investigations to unravel the truth about the botched attempt to cart away the construction equipment.

 

Also, members of the Ukawu Community and the general public are wondering if Governor Ogbonnaya Nwifuru is deliberately covering up for his commissioners or could the planned carting away of the construction equipment an underhand plan to sabotage the Ukawu Water project as a punishment for the people of Ebonyi South.

 

Ordinarily, the state government should already have clearly stated its position on the failed plan to steal public property by the same high-ranking government officials entrusted with the property.

 

 

 

I was wondering why action should be suspended when innocent people were criminalised. The state government officials were involved in economic sabotage and theft, and the sane government wants to cover up instead of prosecuting the people involved or sacking them from work.

The angle of the story should be why the government is covering up criminals in government and a call to the security agencies at the national level to look into the matter. The money is government money.