The Federal Government of Nigeria and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have called on the Abia State Government to urgently remove bureaucratic bottlenecks delaying the take-off of the $263.8 million Abia State Integrated Infrastructural Development (ABSIID) project.

The call was made during a visit by a joint delegation of the Federal Government and AfDB to Umuahia, led by Dr. Oyebola Akande, who represented the Ministry of Finance. They held discussions with Governor Alex Otti on accelerating the stalled project.

The delegation disclosed that two years of the five-year implementation timeline have already been lost due to delays.

The ABSIID project, launched in July 2025, is a multi-sector initiative designed to rehabilitate over 248 kilometres of roads, improve waste management systems, and tackle erosion challenges across Abia State. Key components include 126 kilometres of roads in Aba and 35.57 kilometres in Umuahia, alongside environmental interventions.

At the core of the discussions was the need to fast-track implementation and prevent further delays that could undermine the project’s impact.

Leading the delegation, Dr. Oyebola Akande, who represented the Ministry of Finance, emphasized that all parties must act swiftly to recover lost time and deliver results.

“Our mission here today is to see how we can accelerate this project. The state has a role to play, the Federal Government has a role to play, while the bank also has a role to play,” she said.

AfDB representative Sheila Akyza described the ABSIID initiative as one of the most impactful projects secured by the current administration, stressing the bank’s commitment to ensuring its swift execution for the benefit of residents.

Responding, Governor Otti attributed the delays to a communication gap rather than institutional inefficiencies, noting that he had not been adequately briefed on the project’s status.

“Clearly, I have not been getting the right messages and the right situational report… Whatever it takes, we must flag-off in April… we want to start, latest by April,” the governor said.

He pledged immediate action to resolve all outstanding issues and ensure a prompt start.

On July 16, Nairametrics reported that Abia State secured a $263.8 million financing package from the AfDB, the Islamic Development Bank, and the Federal Government to address critical infrastructure deficits in Aba and Umuahia.

The package includes $115 million from AfDB, comprising $100 million from its core window and $15 million from the Canada-AfDB Climate Fund, alongside $125 million from the Islamic Development Bank and $23.8 million in counterpart funding from the state.

Beyond infrastructure, the project incorporates social impact components such as job creation, with over 3,000 temporary construction jobs and 1,000 permanent roles expected, alongside skills development and support for women and youth entrepreneurs.