APC Chieftain Faults Soludo’s Claim Over Otuocha–Nzam–Ibaji Road Project

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has faulted claims by Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, that his engagements with President Bola Tinubu led to approval of the redesign of Otuocha–Nzam–Ibaji Road Project.
Governor Soludo, earlier in the week, while thanking President Tinubu for approving two strategic roads that link Anambra to other states, claimed that the approvals were results of his engagements with the president.
However, Zonal Organizing Secretary of the APC, South East, Dozie Ikedife, Jr. said in a statement obtained by Anchor Reporters that Governor Soludo’s claim “is difficult to reconcile with the documented sequence of events” leading to the approval.
In his statement titled, “Thanking President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the Otuocha-Nzam-Ibaji Road Project: Separating Facts from Claims,” Ikedife Jr. reeled out what he described as “Documented Timeline,” showing sequence of events that culminated in the president’s approval.
According to Ikedife Jr., Phase 1 of the project was re-awarded in 2022/2023 to include the construction of three bridges and several box culverts, revealing that two of the bridges have since been completed.
Continuing, he said “July 2025: Following the approval of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Honourable Minister of Works, the project was divided into two phases. Phase II was subsequently re-scoped, redesigned, re-evaluated, and approved to proceed through the procurement process.
“14 May 2026: The Federal Ministry of Works submitted an application to the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) for a Certificate of No Objection, accompanied by the approved engineering design and Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME) for Phase II.
“15 May 2026: The Bureau of Public Procurement issued its Certificate of No Objection, authorizing the Ministry of Works to proceed with the award process.
“22 May 2026: The Ministerial Tenders Board approved the rescoped Phase II contract in the sum of ₦97,825,535,803.12.
“ 4 June 2026: The Federal Ministry of Works formally awarded the Phase II contract to NIGERCAT Construction Limited.”
Insisting that the facts speak for themselves, the APC chieftain said that the official records indicated that the re-scoping, redesign, engineering design, BEME preparation, procurement approvals, and contract award had all been completed before Governor Soludo’s meeting with President Tinubu on July 2, 2026.
Ikedife Jr. wondered if the design, BEME, and procurement process of a federal road project could be initiated or approved in July 2026 when the contract had already been formally awarded on 4 June 2026.
“The issuance of a contract award marks the completion of the procurement process. Before any Federal road contract can be awarded, the engineering design, Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME), procurement approvals, and statutory clearances must already have been concluded.
“Accordingly, the documented timeline does not support the assertion that these processes were initiated or approved following the meeting of 2 July 2026,” he said.
While recognizing and encouraging Governor Soludo’s engagement with the federal govern on matters affecting federal infrastructure within Anambra State, Mr. Ikedife Jr. said that available records do not show any evidence that Anambra State government played any role in the approval or award of contract for the Phase II of the project.
“It is more accurate to acknowledge that the project was advanced through the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Ministry of Works, and the statutory procurement institutions that completed the approval process.
“Few members of the National Assembly from Anambra State who advocated for the project may also deserve recognition for their support.
“Ultimately, the people of Anambra State owe the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, gratitude for the award and continued advancement of this critical road project.”
Ikedife said that the Otuocha–Nzam–Innoma–Iheaka–Ibaji (Kogi State) Road is of immense economic and social importance to the communities it serves, but maintained that public discourse on the project should be guided by verifiable facts and the official procurement timeline.