Imo Speaker Chike Olemgbe Faces Public Outrage Over ₦400 Million Constituency Project — ₦200m for Boreholes, ₦200m for Market Construction Sparks Transparency Concerns

Imo Speaker Chike Olemgbe Faces Public Outrage Over ₦400 Million Constituency Project — ₦200m for Boreholes, ₦200m for Market Construction Sparks Transparency Concerns

OWERRI, Nigeria — The Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Chike Olemgbe, has come under intense public scrutiny following revelations that his office allocated a staggering ₦400 million for two constituency projects — ₦200 million for boreholes and another ₦200 million for the construction of a market in Ihitte-Uboma, his home constituency.

The details, which emerged from the recently released 2025 budget breakdown for constituency projects across Imo State, have triggered widespread outrage among citizens, civil society organizations, and political observers, many of whom describe the figures as “unjustifiable” and “symptomatic of systemic corruption.”

While borehole projects are a familiar intervention in many rural communities across Nigeria, the ₦200 million allocation for such undertakings has been described as “outrageously inflated” and lacking transparency. According to local contractors and development experts, a functional community borehole typically costs between ₦3 million and ₦10 million, depending on capacity and terrain.

Similarly, the ₦200 million earmarked for a market construction project has raised eyebrows among residents, who are demanding details about the location, design, and the specific nature of the work expected to be done.

“This is another example of public funds being tossed around under the pretext of constituency development,” said Mr. Kelechi Obi, a policy analyst based in Owerri. “If ₦200 million is used for boreholes, we expect at least 20 to 40 fully functional water facilities — not a few symbolic projects that will fail within months.”

The Imo Good Governance Forum (IGGF), a civic accountability group, issued a strongly worded statement on Friday, accusing lawmakers of using constituency projects as “tools for patronage and personal enrichment.”

“We have seen similar trends across Nigeria — huge budgetary allocations for boreholes, schools, and markets that are either poorly executed or never completed,” the group stated. “The Speaker must explain to the people of Ihitte-Uboma how ₦400 million will be spent responsibly on only two projects. Transparency is not optional; it is a duty.”

The group further urged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the allocations, noting that several previous constituency projects in the state had failed to deliver tangible impact despite substantial funding.

In Ihitte-Uboma, reactions remain sharply divided. While some constituents expressed cautious optimism, hoping the projects would bring long-awaited development to the area, others voiced deep skepticism.

“We appreciate efforts to provide clean water and improve market infrastructure, but ₦400 million is a huge sum,” said Mrs. Ezinne Duru, a resident of Umuagbai community. “People just want openness — tell us where the projects will be sited, who the contractors are, and when work will begin.”

On social media, residents and activists questioned why the projects were limited in scope despite such a high budgetary provision. Several users tagged the Speaker and the Imo State government in posts demanding an immediate breakdown of project costs and implementation plans.

Efforts by journalists to reach Speaker Olemgbe’s media team for comments were unsuccessful as of press time. However, sources within the Assembly suggested that the projects are part of a broader rural development package meant to address critical infrastructural needs in the constituency.

Meanwhile, the Imo State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning has been urged to publish all constituency project documents, including the names of contractors, project locations, and completion timelines.

The controversy comes amid growing nationwide scrutiny over the management of constituency project funds by Nigerian lawmakers. The ICPC recently reiterated its commitment to tracking such projects, warning that “any mismanagement of public resources under constituency allocations will attract full legal consequences.”

Political observers note that the Imo Speaker’s case could become a litmus test for transparency and fiscal discipline within state legislatures across the country.

“The people are tired of seeing inflated figures on paper while their communities remain underdeveloped,” said Dr. Ngozi Anunobi, a governance expert and lecturer at Imo State University. “Accountability begins when public officials realize that every naira must be justified — especially in a state where poverty and unemployment remain critical issues.”

As investigations and public pressure mount, all eyes are now on Speaker Olemgbe and the Imo State government to demonstrate transparency and ensure that every kobo of the ₦400 million allocation serves its intended purpose — genuine development for the people of Ihitte-Uboma.