Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru has taken decisive action against six commissioners and the Afikpo Local Government Chairman, Timothy Nwachi, accusing them of sabotaging a critical housing project meant to resettle displaced residents of the Izzo and Amaze communities. The arrested commissioners�Professor Omari Omaka (Tertiary Education), Victor Chukwu (Environment), Ifeanyi Ogbuewu (Culture and Tourism), Uchenna Igwe (Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters), Moses Ekuma (Health), and Felix Igboke (Project Monitoring)�are alleged to have violated contractual terms overseeing the construction of 140 housing units.
The arrests, confirmed in a press briefing in Abakaliki by Ilang Donatus, Chairman of the State Executive Council Committee on the Izzo and Amaze Housing Project, follow reports that the state government had previously declared the officials wanted. Nwachi, meanwhile, has been suspended from his role as Afikpo Local Government Chairman. The housing initiative, intended to provide relief for communities displaced by the Ezilo/Ezza Ezilo communal crisis in Ishielu Local Government Area, was a flagship project slated for inauguration to mark Nwifuru�s two-year anniversary in office.
Speaking on behalf of the governor, Donatus expressed frustration over the stalled progress. �The governor is not happy over the pace of the work, which ought to have been completed. The government has decided to clamp down on the contractors and commissioners who were mandated to supervise those projects,� he said. He highlighted Nwifuru�s commitment to supporting crisis victims, adding, �Our governor is a man with a passionate heart; he likes giving succour, hence the building of those houses. He is not happy that the project is delayed and has ordered the arrest of all the commissioners who were supposed to ensure the speedy completion of the housing units.�
Maria Okohu, Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Mobilization for Ebonyi Central and a committee member, labeled the delays an �act of sabotage.� She criticized the contractors� failure to meet deadlines and the commissioners� lax supervision, despite clear government directives. �The lack of strict oversight by certain commissioners, as mandated, undermines the governor�s vision,� Okohu stated.
The crackdown extends beyond the arrested officials, with the committee vowing to pursue all involved parties until accountability is enforced. Reports indicate that the Nigeria Police have issued invitation letters to several commissioners and contractors who were absent during the committee�s enforcement visits, signaling a broader investigation into the project�s setbacks.
Governor Nwifuru�s administration has prioritized infrastructure and welfare, with the housing units symbolizing his commitment to rebuilding affected communities. The arrests mark a stern message to officials and contractors alike, as the governor seeks to deliver on his promises amid growing expectations from Ebonyi residents. As the situation unfolds, the state government remains resolute in its mission to complete the project and hold those responsible for its delays to account.
