Widows and different kin of 16 Umuahia-based merchants who died in an accident on the Enugu-Port Harcourt freeway have appealed to the Abia State authorities to fulfill the financial help promise it made to them after the incident.
The accident occurred on Saturday, (*16*) 15, 2026 when some merchants coming back from the normal marriage of one of their members in Enugu, had been concerned in a deadly accident.
Speaking to journalists in Umuahia on Monday, the households of the deceased stated the financial help promised by the Abia State authorities is but to get to them, eight months after.
According to the bereaved households, their common visits to the Abia State Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection had not been fruitful as officers repeatedly informed them that the financial help authorized by Governor Alex Otti remains to be being processed.
Speaking on behalf of different relations, a widow, Mrs Nwankwo Jane Uzoamaka, who misplaced her husband within the accident, alleged that data on the disposal of the merchants was that the cash had lengthy been authorized by Governor Otti.
Mrs Uzoamaka, who was spoke amid tears, expressed concern that officers of the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection or different people could also be sitting on the authorized cash for the previous eight months.
“As at this October 2026, we’ve got not seen something. The rumours we’re getting is that the state authorities has launched the cash however the reality is that none of us has obtained cash or some other help.
“Some of us borrowed money to bury our loved ones after waiting for the government assistance for a long period,” she stated.
Another widow who merely recognized herself as Mrs Amarachi, stated she misplaced her husband and mom to the accident, including that her personal grandmother additionally died of shock after listening to of the incident.
“Please, if the federal government has truly disbursed the cash, they need to come out and inform us and if they’ve launched the cash and if somebody is withholding the cash, that particular person ought to deliver it out as a result of we urgently want it.
“I saw myself online the day the government officials came to make the promise but up till now, I have not seen anything,” Mrs Amarachi appealed.
When contacted, Abia State Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs Ngozi Felix, stated her workplace had not launched the cash.
The commissioner, who defined that her workplace remains to be processing the financial help, stated the fee wouldn’t be made by way of an middleman.
“I appeal to them for patience and understanding as this is a sheer act of benevolence on the part of government after settling their various hospital bills,” she stated.
