Uyo, Akwa Ibom – A shocking revelation of alleged corruption and mismanagement has emerged concerning the repair of the Ndiya Bridge along the Ekparakwa–Etinan–Ikot Ubo Road in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

According to a detailed investigation by the Tracka team, a civic organization focused on monitoring public projects, a staggering ₦246 million allocated in March 2023 for the bridge's repair appears to have been misappropriated, with no visible work completed despite official claims of completion.

The Tracka team, led by MonITNG, visited the site on April 17, 2024, following data verification from the public finance transparency platform managed by BudgIT Foundation.

Their findings, expose a troubling pattern of duplicated budgets and unaccounted funds.

Residents reported to Tracka that the bridge has been in disrepair for over a decade, claiming it has contributed to at least three deaths, including schoolchildren, and severely disrupted their livelihoods.

Despite the contractor, Nakiz Integrated Services Ltd, certifying the project as complete and receiving the funds, field visits confirm no repairs have been undertaken.

The supervising agency’s certificate of completion, issued under the Federal Ministry of Works, is now under scrutiny as evidence of potential fraud.

The investigation uncovered a disturbing trend of budget recycling.

The same project reappeared in the 2024 budget with a new code (ERGP12209234) and an additional ₦10.25 million allocation, labeled as a "new project" despite the earlier claim of completion. In the 2025 budget, it surfaced again under code ERGP12230591, with ₦75 million allocated to the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA).

This pattern suggests a systemic issue of unverified fund disbursement, raising questions about oversight and accountability within the ministry.

MonITNG calls for an urgent investigation by the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Federal Ministry of Works.

The organization demands proof from Nakiz Integrated Services Ltd and supervising officials to substantiate claims of project completion, highlighting the absence of a robust Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system as a critical flaw.

The plight of the Ikot Mfon and Ndiya communities has been a long-standing issue.

Local leaders, including Mr. Ekaette Akpan, have repeatedly appealed to the Akwa Ibom State government for intervention, noting the bridge’s collapse since 2011 has isolated residents from essential services like healthcare and education.

Despite these pleas, including a 2023 motion in the state House of Assembly, no significant action has been taken, fueling frustration and despair.

The Tracka report emphasizes the need for stringent M&E mechanisms to prevent such scandals.

“Every naira released must be tracked, accounted for, and tied to visible, functional infrastructure,” MonITNG asserts in their post on X.

The organization urges the Ministry of Budget and National Planning to verify project implementation before approving new funds, warning that without reform, taxpayers’ money will continue to vanish into fraudulent schemes.