A major transparency watchdog has uncovered a disturbing case of alleged contract abandonment involving the National Root Crops Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, and a private firm, following the disbursement of hundreds of millions of naira for a road project that remains invisible.
The Paper Trail vs. The Reality
According to data released by Tracka, a public expenditure monitoring organization, the sum of N432.46 million was paid to Nolarix Nigeria Ltd on December 13, 2025. The contract was earmarked for the grading and surface dressing of feeder farm roads linking various communities, specifically the Awuja Farm Settlement in Akoli Imenyi, Abia State.
Despite the massive financial commitment, field investigators reported that the project has not been executed. The road, which was intended to be a vital economic artery for the region, remains in a deplorable condition, posing significant physical risks to the local population.
Hazardous Conditions and Economic Hardship
The investigation team described the terrain as virtually impassable. “The route was so unsafe that movement by motorcycle was hazardous, with near-falls recorded multiple times,” the report stated. This stands in stark contrast to the expected outcome of a near-half-billion-naira investment.
The failure of the project has triggered a ripple effect of economic hardship for local agricultural producers. Residents informed investigators that on market days, farmers are forced to trek for 30 minutes carrying heavy produce on their heads to reach the nearest accessible community. Heavy trucks, essential for transporting commercial quantities of crops, reportedly shun the area entirely during the rainy season due to the steep and slippery terrain.
“This means farmers are losing time, income, and opportunities because a critical rural access road remains abandoned despite substantial payment,” the report noted. “A feeder road is not a luxury project; it is economic infrastructure that connects producers to markets and reduces post-harvest losses.”
A Call for Immediate Investigation
The discrepancy between the official payment records and the physical state of the Awuja Farm Settlement road has raised red flags regarding project oversight and agency accountability. Critics are now questioning what milestones were used to justify the release of such a large sum to the contractor.
In light of these findings, the monitoring group has issued a formal demand to the NRCRI, Umudike, to immediately disclose the full contract details, scope of work, and implementation status. Furthermore, they have called upon the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the ICPC to launch a probe into the disbursement.
As the Federal Government manages a record N68.32 trillion budget, transparency advocates warn that without citizen vigilance, many public promises will continue to end as invisible infrastructure while rural communities remain trapped in avoidable poverty.
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