Cehraws

27/09/2026

PRESS STATEMENT
27 September 2026

UGWUEKE UNDER WATER: CEHRAWS CALLS FOR URGENT GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION TO SAVE LIVES AND LIVELIHOODS

The Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS) expresses deep concern over the reported severe flooding in Ugwueke Community, Bende North, Abia State, which has reportedly submerged homes, destroyed property, blocked access roads to farms and markets, disrupted livelihoods and displaced several families.

CEHRAWS sympathises with the affected families and the entire community over the hardship and losses occasioned by the disaster. For a predominantly agrarian community whose livelihood depends largely on farming and the sale of agricultural produce, the reported destruction of farms and disruption of access routes pose a serious threat to household incomes, food security and the community’s economic survival.

This situation requires an urgent and coordinated humanitarian response. Affected families should not be left to confront the consequences of the disaster without immediate assistance, particularly where homes have become unsafe and sources of livelihood have been lost.

Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended), provides that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. Section 17(3)(a) further recognises the duty of the State to ensure that adequate facilities are provided to enable citizens to secure suitable and adequate means of livelihood.

CEHRAWS therefore calls on the Federal Government, the Abia State Government and the National Emergency Management Commission (NEMA), alongside other relevant emergency and humanitarian authorities, to urgently assess the extent of the damage and provide appropriate relief and recovery assistance to the affected community.

We particularly urge Governor Alex Otti to treat the situation as an emergency and ensure that the State’s relevant emergency-response structures are immediately mobilised to complement federal intervention.

Given the reported displacement of families, CEHRAWS also calls for the immediate establishment of a temporary Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp or suitable emergency shelter facility in or near the affected community, where displaced persons can access temporary accommodation, food, clean water, sanitation, healthcare, protection and other essential services until it is safe for them to return home.

There is also an urgent need to restore access to farms and markets, clear blocked roads and waterways, provide emergency medical assistance and support affected farmers whose livelihoods have been damaged. Beyond immediate relief, the relevant authorities should undertake a technical assessment of the causes and extent of the flooding and implement sustainable drainage, flood-control and infrastructure measures to reduce the risk of recurrence.

CONCLUSION

Ugwueke community needs urgent help, not sympathy alone.

CEHRAWS calls for a swift, coordinated and people-centred response to protect lives, support displaced families, restore access and help affected residents rebuild their livelihoods.

When disaster displaces citizens and destroys their means of survival, government intervention is not a favour; it is a responsibility.

Signed:
Okoye, Chuka Peter
Executive Director, CEHRAWS
[email protected] | +234(0)808-035-1242 (WhatsApp only)
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23/09/2026

23/09/2026

BEYOND PUNISHMENT: SECOND CHANCES.
Advocating a justice system that prioritises rehabilitation, reintegration, dignity and safer communities for all.

18/09/2026

The central question is simple: Where has the money gone, what work has been certified, and why is the promised value still difficult to see on the ground?

18/09/2026

TECHNOLOGY MUST SERVE THE PEOPLE! 💻📱

The Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS) welcomes the Abia State Government’s efforts to leverage technology for economic development, job creation, public-sector reform, improved service delivery and greater citizen engagement, as highlighted during the SPRIRET Stakeholder Engagement Programme in Umuahia.

But technology must never become an end in itself. Its true value lies in how effectively it improves the lives, dignity, opportunities and participation of ordinary citizens.

Section 14(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution places the security and welfare of the people at the centre of government. Sections 16 and 17 further establish economic and social objectives aimed at promoting citizens’ welfare and development.

CEHRAWS therefore calls for a people-centred digital transformation agenda that:

✅ Leaves no rural, poor, elderly or digitally underserved community behind.
✅ Promotes access to information, citizen participation and government accountability.
✅ Ensures transparency in the funding, procurement and implementation of digital programmes.
✅ Protects citizens’ personal data and privacy in accordance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023.
✅ Strengthens cybersecurity and safeguards public digital infrastructure.
✅ Ensures responsible and human-centred use of Artificial Intelligence.
✅ Uses technology to address real challenges—including unemployment, agriculture, environmental degradation, security, transportation and access to public services.
✅ Provides accessible offline alternatives for citizens who face technological or financial barriers.

The Freedom of Information Act, the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 and other applicable laws provide important safeguards that must remain central to the digital governance agenda.

Technology should make government more accessible, transparent and accountable—not create another barrier between the government and the governed.

THE CEHRAWS MESSAGE

Technology must not become another layer between government and the people; it must become a bridge between government and the governed.

The future belongs not merely to those who control technology, but to societies that deploy it responsibly, inclusively and in the service of human dignity and the common good.

Okoye, Chuka Peter
Executive Director, CEHRAWS
[email protected] | +234(0)808-035-1242 (Whatever only)
Facebook: Cehraws

18/09/2026

Press Statement
18 September 2026

CEHRAWS DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY OVER REPORTED ₦6.24 BILLION RELEASED FOR NAZE–NEKEDE–IHIAGWA–OBINZE ROAD

The Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS) is deeply concerned about the deplorable condition of the Naze (Poly Junction)–Nekede–Ihiagwa–Obinze Road in Imo State, despite substantial public funds reportedly allocated and released for the project.

Figures cited in the 2025 budget and implementation reports indicate that ₦6.8 billion was allocated for the construction of the road, with ₦2.24 billion reportedly released by the second quarter of 2025 and a further ₦4 billion by the third quarter, bringing the reported releases to ₦6.24 billion.

Yet, significant portions of the road remain in poor condition. While some rehabilitation has reportedly been carried out along the Naze–Nekede axis, sections from Muruako Junction through Umuchima and towards Obinze remain largely unfinished, with stretches characterised by stone-base work, exposed red earth, potholes and serious deterioration.

This situation raises legitimate questions of public accountability and value for money, particularly because the road serves major institutions and communities, including the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Federal Polytechnic Nekede and other educational, commercial and residential areas. Its condition poses serious safety, mobility and access concerns, especially for students, staff, commuters and residents who depend on the route daily.

CEHRAWS therefore calls on the Imo State Government and the Ministry of Works to provide clear and verifiable answers to some fundamental questions: What is the total contract sum? Who was awarded the contract and when? How much has actually been paid to the contractor? What specific works were covered by the payments made? What percentage of the project has been completed and certified? Were the works executed in accordance with the approved design, specifications and Bill of Quantities? What accounts for the apparent disparity between the reported funds released and the condition of the road?

These questions are not allegations of fraud or misappropriation. They are legitimate demands for transparency and accountability in the management of public resources.

Section 14(2)(b) of the Constitution places the security and welfare of the people at the centre of government, while Sections 16 and 17 establish economic and social objectives aimed at promoting the welfare and development of citizens. More specifically, Section 128 empowers a State House of Assembly to investigate the administration and disbursement of money appropriated by the Assembly and to expose waste, corruption and inefficiency.

The Imo State Public Procurement Law No. 12 of 2010 also emphasises transparency, accountability, efficiency and value for money in public procurement and project ex*****on.

CEHRAWS therefore urges the relevant authorities to publish the contract award details, contractor's name, contract sum, approved scope and specifications, payment and certification records, variations, funds released and the current status of the project. We also recommend an independent technical assessment of the road to determine the causes of its deterioration or incomplete sections, including issues relating to drainage, design, construction quality and maintenance.

The people of Imo State deserve roads that are safe, durable and fit for purpose. Where billions of naira are appropriated and reportedly released for a public project, the corresponding value should be visible and measurable.

The central question is simple: Where has the money gone, what work has been certified, and why is the promised value still difficult to see on the ground?

Signed
Okoye, Chuka Peter
Executive Director, CEHRAWS
[email protected] | +234(0)808-035-1242 (WhatsApp only)
Facebook: Cehraws

16/09/2026

PRESS STATEMENT
16 September 2026

ANAMBRA DEBT CONTROVERSY: CEHRAWS URGES DOCUMENT-BASED ACCOUNTABILITY — LET THE RECORDS SPEAK

The Centre for Human Rights Advocacy and Wholesome Society (CEHRAWS) has followed with keen interest the unfolding controversy between the Anambra State Government and former Governor Peter Obi over alleged inherited loans, public liabilities, and the purported ecological fund said to have been left at the end of his administration.

The Anambra State Government has now released what it describes as official records showing eight external loan facilities allegedly contracted between 2007 and 2013, with an outstanding balance of about $92.35 million as of June 30, 2026. Mr Peter Obi, however, maintains that he left office without outstanding salaries, pensions, gratuities or liabilities to contractors whose claims were due, and insists that he left substantial funds for the succeeding administration.

CEHRAWS considers this an important public-interest issue that should not be reduced to political exchanges or media narratives. The appropriate response is full disclosure, independent verification and accountability.

First, the existence of public debt does not, by itself, establish personal wrongdoing by a former governor. Public borrowing is an obligation of the State and must be assessed against the applicable constitutional, statutory and regulatory framework. What must therefore be established is precisely what was borrowed, by whom on behalf of the State, for what purpose, when it was disbursed, what was repaid, and what remains outstanding.

Second, the Anambra State Government should go beyond aggregate figures and publish the underlying documentation for each facility attributed to the Obi administration, including the lender, date, original amount, purpose, approval, disbursement, repayment history and current outstanding balance. The Government's recent response identifies several projects associated with the loans, but these claims should remain open to independent verification against DMO records, loan agreements and audited public accounts.

Third, Mr Obi's counterclaims should equally be subjected to documentary scrutiny. If he maintains that he left substantial savings and no outstanding liabilities of the nature alleged, the relevant handover documents, audited accounts, bank statements and other official records should be made available to substantiate those claims.

The same principle applies to the disputed ₦2.13 billion ecological fund. Mr Obi says the money was received shortly before the end of his tenure and left intact for a specific erosion-control project. The State Government now says a certified bank statement for the account identified by Mr Obi does not support that claim. This is precisely the kind of dispute that should be resolved by certified financial records, not competing political assertions.

The Constitution imposes clear accountability obligations concerning public finance. Sections 120–125 provide for the control, appropriation and auditing of State public funds, while section 128 empowers the State House of Assembly to investigate the administration and disbursement of public funds and expose corruption, inefficiency or waste.

CEHRAWS therefore calls for a comprehensive and independently verifiable reconciliation of Anambra State's financial position from the Obi administration through the Obiano and Soludo administrations. Such an exercise should establish, administration by administration, what was borrowed, what was received, what was spent, what was repaid, what was inherited and what remains outstanding.

We also caution against attributing political motives to either side without evidence. The timing of the renewed controversy, particularly within the broader 2027 political environment, is a legitimate matter for public scrutiny, but timing alone does not establish motive.

CEHRAWS is not defending Peter Obi, Chukwuma Soludo, Willie Obiano or any political party. Our concern is the people's constitutional right to transparency, accountability and responsible management of public resources.

Whether the records ultimately support one claim or another, the answer must come from audited accounts, DMO records, loan agreements, bank statements, appropriation records and official handover documents, not propaganda or political rhetoric.

The people of Anambra deserve the facts.

Let the documents speak.

Signed
Okoye, Chuka Peter
Executive Director, CEHRAWS
[email protected] | +234(0)808-035-1242 (WhatsApp only)
Facebook: Cehraws