The Ebonyi State Government has arrested seven commissioners and a local government chairman for failing to complete a housing project meant for displaced communities in the state. The officials were responsible for supervising the construction of 140 housing units for residents of Izzo and Amaze communities, who were affected by the Ezilo/Ezza Ezilo communal crisis in Ishielu Local Government Area.
The arrested officials include Professor Omari Omaka, Commissioner for Tertiary Education; Victor Chukwu, Commissioner for Environment; Ifeanyi Ogbuewu, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters; Uchenna Igwe, Commissioner for Health; Dr. Moses Ekuma, Commissioner for Project Monitoring; Felix Igboke, and the Chairman of Afikpo Local Government Area, Timothy Nwachi.
The state government took this action due to delays in delivering the project and failure to meet the agreed terms and conditions.
Dr. Ilang Donates, Chairman of the State Executive Council Committee on Izzo and Amaze Housing Project, confirmed the arrests in Abakaliki, the state capital. He stated that the government had no other option since the officials failed to ensure the timely completion of the project.
“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,” Donates said.
He further noted that Governor Francis Nwifuru had prioritized the housing project to provide shelter for victims of the crisis. However, the failure to complete the work on time led to the government’s decision to hold those responsible accountable.
Mrs. Maria Okohu, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Women Mobilization, Ebonyi Central, and a member of the housing project committee, described the situation as sabotage. She noted that some commissioners failed to properly oversee the contractors as directed by the government.
Other members of the committee overseeing the project include Commissioner for Inter-Party Affairs, Okorie Philip Ogbonnaya; Commissioner for Special Duties, Valentine Okike-Uzor; and Special Assistant to the Governor on Internal Security, Ezza South LGA, Okum Godwin.
