Abandoned N20.5m sanitation project in Abia sparks outrage
community News
Isieke, Abia – A multimillion-naira federal project meant to provide essential sanitation and clean water to communities in Isialangwa South Local Government Area of Abia State has been left to rot, just months after completion, according to citizen accountability group TrackaNG.
The facility, constructed in 2024 under the Federal Ministry of Water Resources (FMWR), was intended to serve two key locations of Eketa Market in Isieket and Umuleghele Community Primary School, both in Isieke.
Between 2023 and 2025, a total of N20.5 million was paid to contractor ZEPEK CONCEPTS LIMITED for the “Construction of Sanitation & Hygiene Facilities with Solar Powered Borehole,”
TrackaNG, which tracks public projects and encourages community feedback, visited the sites and reported that while basic infrastructure including toilet blocks and a water tank was installed at Eketa Market, the facilities have never functioned.
The solar-powered borehole and overhead tank failed to deliver water even once, rendering the toilets unusable. Residents say they had no contact details for the contractor and no avenue to report the issues.
The group has called on the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to take urgent action, to publicly release full project details, compel the contractor to return to the site for repairs, and ensure proper handover after renovation.
The revelation comes as Abia State has recently secured a major $700 million World Bank-backed Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (SURWASH) programme, alongside state-level efforts to rehabilitate water schemes.
Critics argue that cases like this undermine public trust in such initiatives and highlight the urgent need for stronger oversight, community involvement, and contractor accountability in federal infrastructure projects.
As of press time, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources had not issued a response to the allegations.
