In Abuja, the House of Representatives has undertaken to investigate the alleged abandonment of the Orlu-Mgbe-Akokwa Road in the Ideato North/South federal constituency of Imo State by both the state government and certain oil companies. This move comes despite the prior approval by former President Muhammadu Buhari of Tax Incentive Credit for the project. The Road Infrastructure Tax Credit (RITC) Scheme, approved by former President Buhari in October 2017, was intended to encourage private sector involvement in road infrastructure development across Nigeria. Among the numerous roads slated for repair and reconstruction under this scheme is the 22-kilometer Orlu-Mgbe-Akokwa federal road, which traverses the Ideato North/South federal constituency of Imo State. The decision to investigate was prompted by a petition presented to the House plenary on Tuesday by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, the representative of the constituency. The petition, dated March 14, 2024, and signed by the chairman, Elder Ejike Okwara, and secretary, Elder Mbaoma Uche, of the Forum of Elders of Ideato Communities, highlighted the perceived failure of the Imo State government and oil companies to fulfill their obligations under the tax credit scheme. According to the petition, although the Imo State government and oil companies had entered into a partnership for the repair and rehabilitation of the road, little to no progress has been made on the project since its commencement. Consequently, residents of the constituency are suffering from a complete disconnect from other parts of the state and country due to the deplorable condition of the road. Furthermore, the petitioners expressed concerns about the exacerbation of gully erosion in the area, leading to the destruction of properties and prompting residents to flee for their safety. They emphasized the urgent need for action to compel the relevant authorities to resume construction on the road and mitigate the risks faced by the community. Upon consideration, the petition was referred to the House Committee on Public Petitions for further legislative scrutiny by the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, during the plenary session. This step underscores the House's commitment to addressing the grievances of the affected constituents and ensuring accountability in the execution of public infrastructure projects.