Inside Edo
Over 20 Edo Communities suffers after abandonment of Road Project
Written By: Udo Inobeme
02 Jul 2025 04:13 AM
Owan, Edo — A ₦200million constituency road project in Edo State has been abandoned, leaving more than 20 communities across Owan East and West Local Government Areas cut off from vital markets, schools and healthcare.
According to a civic technology platform MonITNG, the “Construction of Warake to Ivbiaro Road” was facilitated by Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC-Edo-North) and awarded in 2024 to Sam Sedi Nigeria Limited through the Federal Ministry of Education, with the supervision by the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi.
During a site inspection, MonITNG reported seeing no active work, only manual tools dumped under trees, and no machinery on ground.
The group says the situation exposes an alarming abuse of procurement processes and called on anti-corruption agencies to take urgent action.
“Dear Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) We visited the site of the Construction of Warake to Ivbiaro Road in Owan East LGA, Edo State, a project facilitated by Senator Adams Oshiomhole and awarded to Sam Sedi Nigeria Limited.
What we saw was an abandoned site, manual tools dumped under trees, and no sign of serious roadwork. This is unacceptable.
Shockingly, this ₦200 million road project was awarded through the Federal Ministry of Education and supervised by the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, an academic institution with no business overseeing road construction. This is a clear abuse of procurement processes and a gross misplacement of responsibility.”
MonITNG stated that the construction company lacks the capacity to deliver a project of this size, describing it as a classic example of political patronage that fails local communities.
“The contractor, Sam Sedi Nigeria Limited, has no visible capacity to handle a project of this scale. This is what happens when lawmakers award contracts to cronies and companies lacking technical competence. These practices waste public funds and leave communities suffering.”
The group expressed outrage that a tertiary institution was dragged into supervising road works, calling it “unacceptable” and demanding that those responsible be held to account.
“We call on ICPC and EFCC to immediately investigate this project and the contractor. The owner of Sam Sedi Nigeria Limited must be identified and questioned. Why was a school dragged into road construction, and who truly benefits from these shady arrangements?”
Ilevbaoje Uadamen, Founder of MonITNG, criticized the recurring pattern, stating, "This is how National Assembly members award contracts to agencies and contractors with no real capacity to implement them. When you challenge them, they often deny knowing the contractor—blaming the agency instead. Yet, here we are again: the same Nicholas Sam-Sedi who handled an agricultural empowerment project for Senator Adams Oshiomhole in Edo North is now executing a ₦200 million road project. This recycling of individuals with questionable capacity across sectors—from agriculture to road construction—exposes the deep flaws in our procurement system and the culture of patronage over performance."
The watchdog stressed that the abandoned road has caused severe hardship for villagers who rely on the route for their livelihoods.
“This abandoned road links over 20 communities across Owan East and West LGAs. Today, residents are stranded due to failed representation and poor oversight. Constituency projects are meant to bring development — not enrich a few at the expense of many. The people deserve justice.”
MonITNG concluded by calling on the EFCC and ICPC to urgently probe how the contract was awarded, supervised and subsequently abandoned, so the communities can finally see the development they were promised.
Source: Sahara Reporters
According to a civic technology platform MonITNG, the “Construction of Warake to Ivbiaro Road” was facilitated by Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC-Edo-North) and awarded in 2024 to Sam Sedi Nigeria Limited through the Federal Ministry of Education, with the supervision by the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi.
During a site inspection, MonITNG reported seeing no active work, only manual tools dumped under trees, and no machinery on ground.
The group says the situation exposes an alarming abuse of procurement processes and called on anti-corruption agencies to take urgent action.
“Dear Economic Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) Independent Corrupt Practices & Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) We visited the site of the Construction of Warake to Ivbiaro Road in Owan East LGA, Edo State, a project facilitated by Senator Adams Oshiomhole and awarded to Sam Sedi Nigeria Limited.
What we saw was an abandoned site, manual tools dumped under trees, and no sign of serious roadwork. This is unacceptable.
Shockingly, this ₦200 million road project was awarded through the Federal Ministry of Education and supervised by the Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, an academic institution with no business overseeing road construction. This is a clear abuse of procurement processes and a gross misplacement of responsibility.”
MonITNG stated that the construction company lacks the capacity to deliver a project of this size, describing it as a classic example of political patronage that fails local communities.
“The contractor, Sam Sedi Nigeria Limited, has no visible capacity to handle a project of this scale. This is what happens when lawmakers award contracts to cronies and companies lacking technical competence. These practices waste public funds and leave communities suffering.”
The group expressed outrage that a tertiary institution was dragged into supervising road works, calling it “unacceptable” and demanding that those responsible be held to account.
“We call on ICPC and EFCC to immediately investigate this project and the contractor. The owner of Sam Sedi Nigeria Limited must be identified and questioned. Why was a school dragged into road construction, and who truly benefits from these shady arrangements?”
Ilevbaoje Uadamen, Founder of MonITNG, criticized the recurring pattern, stating, "This is how National Assembly members award contracts to agencies and contractors with no real capacity to implement them. When you challenge them, they often deny knowing the contractor—blaming the agency instead. Yet, here we are again: the same Nicholas Sam-Sedi who handled an agricultural empowerment project for Senator Adams Oshiomhole in Edo North is now executing a ₦200 million road project. This recycling of individuals with questionable capacity across sectors—from agriculture to road construction—exposes the deep flaws in our procurement system and the culture of patronage over performance."
The watchdog stressed that the abandoned road has caused severe hardship for villagers who rely on the route for their livelihoods.
“This abandoned road links over 20 communities across Owan East and West LGAs. Today, residents are stranded due to failed representation and poor oversight. Constituency projects are meant to bring development — not enrich a few at the expense of many. The people deserve justice.”
MonITNG concluded by calling on the EFCC and ICPC to urgently probe how the contract was awarded, supervised and subsequently abandoned, so the communities can finally see the development they were promised.
Source: Sahara Reporters
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