When Emmanuel (not his real name) first learned that the Ebonyi State Government had approved the construction of an overhead and underpass bridge at Vanco Junction, he was filled with hope. As a tricycle operator, he imagined faster journeys, expanded routes, and increased earnings.
But months later, that hope has turned to bitterness.
What was expected to be a landmark project has become a source of anguish for residents and businesses. With construction dragging endlessly, movement has become difficult, and the prolonged uncertainty has left many in despair.
“Nothing is more frustrating than government inaction,” Emmanuel lamented. He recalled earning around ₦12,000 daily before construction began. Now, with blocked access roads and unending traffic, he struggles to make even ₦6,000.
For other residents like Daniel, a man living with a disability, passing through the construction area has become a life-threatening ordeal. A makeshift wooden ladder serves as a risky bridge over a river beneath the site—a hazard that residents must navigate daily.
Contracts Worth Over ₦8.6 Billion Awarded to Shell Companies
An investigation has uncovered that the Ebonyi State Government awarded road and bridge contracts worth more than ₦8.6 billion to companies with questionable qualifications—many of them newly registered “shell companies” or firms linked to politically exposed persons, including close associates of Governor Francis Nwifuru.
These findings point to widespread violations of procurement laws, raising concerns about transparency, conflict of interest, and corruption in the award and execution of public projects.
Residents say the result is visible everywhere: stalled projects, worsening road conditions, and increased hardship.
At Vanco Junction—a once-bustling commercial hub—business owners now stand beside heaps of sand and abandoned machinery.
“Since they blocked this road for construction, business has died,” a trader said.
Violation of Procurement Rules: The Vanco Bridge Contract
On July 25, 2024, the Ebonyi State Ministry of Works and Transport announced the award of a ₦8.6 billion contract for what it described as the first overhead bridge with an underground tunnel in the South East.
The contract went to Real Aggregate Engineering Limited, a company registered just four months earlier on March 13, 2024.
Records show the bidding process began on April 15, 2024, meaning the company was barely one month old at the time—unable to satisfy statutory requirements for tax history, technical capacity, and experience, as mandated by Section 21 (1) of the Ebonyi State Public Procurement Law (2020).
Despite claims of “competitive bidding,” evidence shows that Real Aggregate bid against another questionable company, Oke Ogirima Company Limited. Both companies share:
- The same phone number
- The same Truecaller ID: “Oke Nwodom (PA)”
- Beneficial owners linked by family ties
Further investigation revealed that Oke Nwodom Okechukwu Peter, registered as a director of Oke Ogirima Company Limited, is also the personal assistant to Governor Francis Nwifuru.
These findings strongly suggest insider contracting and a manipulated bidding process.
By December 2024, Real Aggregate had already received ₦6.022 billion, representing over 70% mobilisation, despite little visible progress at the site.
During visits to the bridge site, only a handful of manual labourers were seen working. There was no company signage, no project details displayed, and residents said they have no idea who the contractor is.
One worker openly admitted:
“It is not a company managing the work. It’s individuals.”
Meanwhile, homes were demolished to make room for the bridge, yet the project remains mostly abandoned.
More Multi-Billion Naira Contracts Awarded to New Companies
1. Oferekpe–Agabja Internal Road (₦4.7 Billion)
Despite officially awarding the contract in June 2025, budget records show the state had already spent ₦903 million on the same project by September 2024—raising serious questions about backdated spending.
2. Jiodarc Company Limited (₦642.5 Million)
This contract was awarded through sole bidding, with Jiodarc listed as the only bidder.
CAC records show the company is owned by:
- Nwifuru Sylvester Jioke – Governor’s brother
- Jioke Rosemary Chiwendu – Governor’s sister-in-law and current Executive Secretary of the Ebonyi State Drugs and Medical Commodities Management Agency
This raises glaring concerns of conflict of interest.
3. Azuegu Obvu Construction Limited (₦400 Million)
Registered on April 15, 2024, it secured a state contract three months later. Field investigations show that its registered address is a residential area, with residents confirming no such company exists.
4. Pdoings Integrated Services Limited (₦1.094 Billion)
The company was five months old when it received the contract to build the EBOCAB Terminal—again, violating procurement rules. Its owner is listed as Nwifuru Chigbuogu Felix, further linking the deal to the governor’s circle.
5. Maurifrank Nigeria Limited (₦3.3 Billion)
This contract is especially troubling.
The company is owned by Nkwuda Monday Nnanna, the Permanent Secretary of the Ebonyi State Ministry of Works and Transport—the same ministry awarding the contract.
This violates Section 21 (19) of the Ebonyi Procurement Act, which prohibits officials involved in procurement from benefiting from contracts.
Worse still, Maurifrank’s bid was ₦2.6 billion, but the final approval was ₦3.3 billion, an unexplained jump of ₦700 million.
Serial Contract Awards Without Competitive Bidding
The investigation also uncovered multiple contracts awarded to single bidders without competition—contrary to procurement laws that mandate open, transparent bidding.
Examples include:
- Amaechi Scrapfolding Ventures – ₦400 million
- Bruce Integrated Services – ₦715 million (owned by former Senator Nse Bassey Ekpenyong)
Legal Experts Speak
Legal practitioner Awosusi Kehinde described the contracts as clear abuses:
“A few months old company cannot file annual returns or have valid tax clearance. Such companies are not legally qualified to bid for public contracts.”
Residents Bear the Consequences
Across Ebonyi, residents complain of worsening roads, collapsed businesses, demolished homes, and stalled infrastructure—direct consequences of a corrupted procurement system.
Government Responds—Barely
When contacted, the governor’s spokesperson Monday Uzor declined to comment.
“I cannot comment on that; I don’t know about the procurement process,” he said.
The Executive Secretary of the Ebonyi State Bureau of Public Procurement, Uzoma Betty, also declined to respond despite multiple attempts.
Conclusion
This investigation exposes a disturbing pattern of:
- Contract inflation
- Insider contracting
- Abuse of office
- Violations of procurement law
- Use of shell companies
- Lack of accountability
The result is stalled infrastructure, wasted public funds, and deepening hardship for Ebonyi residents.
This investigation was supported by the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR).
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