Ebonyi State is a relatively small state, but the resources available to its government are substantial enough to raise a serious question about development and accountability.
That question becomes even more important when government projects directly affect the homes, businesses and livelihoods of ordinary citizens.
THE VANCO PROJECT
One project that deserves particular attention is the Vanco flyover and underground tunnel project in Abakaliki.
The project was presented as part of the development and modernisation of the state capital.
But to make way for the project, shops, houses, businesses and other properties around the Vanco area were demolished.
For many of the affected people, the demolition was not simply the loss of a building.
It meant the loss of businesses, customers, income and livelihoods.
THE COMPENSATION QUESTION
Some affected residents and property owners have alleged that they were not compensated for the destruction of their properties.
The Ebonyi State Government has maintained that affected property owners were compensated.
That difference in accounts creates an accountability question that should not simply be ignored.
If compensation was paid:
Who received it?
How much was paid?
When was it paid?
Which properties were covered?
And can the government provide records showing the payments?
These are reasonable questions.
People whose properties were demolished should be able to know what happened to their compensation.
THE BIGGER VANCO QUESTION
Compensation is only one part of the Vanco story.
The bigger issue is the project itself.
The Vanco flyover and tunnel have faced prolonged delays, raising concerns about whether the project is being completed within the expected timeframe.
The Ebonyi State Government has maintained that the project remains on course and has directed contractors to accelerate the work.
That position makes the situation even more important to monitor.
Because if people’s shops, houses and properties were removed in the name of development, citizens have a legitimate right to expect the promised infrastructure to be completed.
They should not be left with demolished properties, disrupted businesses and uncertainty while waiting indefinitely for the project.
And the Vanco project cannot be separated from the wider question of Ebonyi’s public finances.
Ebonyi’s 2026 budget is about ₦885.8 billion, with more than ₦719 billion allocated to capital expenditure.
The state’s own second-quarter budget implementation report also recorded ₦210.64 billion in total revenue between January and June 2026.
Yet the same official records show that only ₦62.61 billion had been spent on capital expenditure by the end of June.
That raises an obvious question:
HOW QUICKLY ARE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO EBONYI BEING CONVERTED INTO COMPLETED INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES?
WHAT SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT EXPLAIN?
The issue is not that every government project must be completed immediately.
Large infrastructure projects can face engineering, funding, contractual and other challenges.
But citizens deserve transparency when projects affect their property and livelihoods.
They deserve to know how much has been budgeted.
They deserve to know how much has been paid.
They deserve to know who received the contracts.
They deserve to know why delays occurred.
And they deserve to know when the projects will actually be completed.
VANCO AS A TEST OF ACCOUNTABILITY
Vanco should therefore become more than a construction project.
It should become a test of accountability in Ebonyi State.
If compensation was paid, the government should be able to demonstrate it.
If money has been released for the project, the government should be able to show how much has been spent.
If contractors have delayed the work, citizens deserve to know what action government has taken.
And if the project is still on course, the people of Ebonyi deserve a clear completion timeline.
Development should not mean that citizens sacrifice their homes and businesses today only to be left waiting indefinitely for the promised development tomorrow.
The people of Ebonyi State deserve to see the results of the money allocated in their name.
They deserve transparency.
They deserve accountability.
And most importantly, they deserve development that they can actually see and experience.
The Vanco project is therefore not just about a flyover or tunnel.
It is about public money, demolished properties, disrupted livelihoods, government promises and the right of citizens to demand answers.
We don’t just report the news. We analyse what it means.
By Viewers Corner News