THE INVISIBLE N348.1M GARRI PLANT: NOW YOU SEE THE MONEY, NOW YOU DON’T

THE INVISIBLE N348.1M GARRI PLANT: NOW YOU SEE THE MONEY, NOW YOU DON’T

By Nwa Bende

Questions have continued to trail the reported execution of a *₦348,129,596.34* Federal Government funded garri processing plant in Umuhu Ezechi community, Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State.

Let us read that again slowly. ₦348,129,596.34.

Not ₦348m for convenience. The extra ₦129,596.34 must be for the invisibility paint.

According to publicly available records, the facility was approved, funded, and constructed. Supporters of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives say it has been completed and is “awaiting commissioning.”

There’s just one small problem. Nobody in Umuhu Ezechi can find it.

Residents have launched a full search operation.

They’ve checked the market square. No plant.

They’ve checked the farmland where cassava grows in abundance. No plant.

They’ve checked behind the primary school, by the stream, and along the roadside where banners and cameras usually appear. Still no plant.

What they did find: cassava. Mountains of it.

They found women ready to peel. Youth ready to work. Traders ready to sell.

What they did not find: a single block, machine, or signboard worth ₦348,129,596.34.

Apparently the facility is very shy. It was approved, funded, built, completed, and has now decided to play hide and seek with the same people it was built to serve.

Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu visited Umuhu Ezechi recently.

Cash for Okada riders? Delivered with smiles.

Photos and handshakes? Delivered with plenty of angles.

Tour of the N348.1m plant? That one is still “awaiting commissioning.” And also awaiting Google Maps.

The Amaeke–Umuhu–Abiriba Road joined the waiting list too. It is currently awaiting commissioning, awaiting asphalt, and awaiting gravity to stop making potholes. Right now it is mostly dust, prayers, and suspension repairs.

We have seen this movie before. Machines come, gravel is poured, pictures are taken, then rain comes and washes the memory away.

QUESTIONS THE GHOST PLANT INSPIRED

Since supporters insist the project exists, the people of Umuhu Ezechi humbly request a guided tour. We are flexible:

1. Where exactly is the ₦348,129,596.34 plant? GPS coordinates will do. A landmark works too. “Near the big mango tree” is acceptable.

2. Who got the contract and what was delivered for ₦348,129,596.34? Receipts preferred. But we will also accept an artist’s impression and a prayer.

3. Why was the community not shown the facility during the last visit? Was it busy being commissioned in another constituency?

4. Will the new road intervention also be awaiting commissioning indefinitely? Asking for our mothers with garri, our sick going to hospital, and our children going to school.

Umuhu Ezechi is not asking for miracles. We are asking for a building. With walls. With roofing. With machines that make noise. With a signboard that does not disappear when the cameras leave.

Chief. Emenike Okorie earlier told the powerful, “No. Give us something that will last.”

At this rate, we would settle for something we can actually see.

Until then, the ₦348,129,596.34 garri plant remains Abia’s most expensive invisible project.

Status: Completed.

Commissioning: Soon.

Location: TBD.

Proof: Coming in the next press release.

The question now is: who will point us to it?

Nwa Bende writes from Umuhu Ezechi

E-mail: nwabendeekwuo@gmail.com