Edith CHUKU
Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan Enoh, has dismissed allegations linking him to the controversy regarding the deplorable conditions of the Agbokim Waterfall Road.
Enoh insisted that he was never awarded the Agbokim Waterfall Road contract, noting that claims that he owned the contract was malicious, defamatory, and borne purely out of hatred, mischief and political bitterness.
He made these clarifications in response to allegations against him by Cross River State social media activist and content creator, Micheal Okongor, popularly known as MC Okrika.
He described MC Okrika’s claims as malicious, reckless falsehood, mischievous, lies fabricated to deceive the public and assassinate his character.
MC Okrika in a video that went viral said Enoh was part of the people that held the contract for the rehabilitation of the deplorable Agbokim Waterfall Road.
He claimed 3.233billion naira was released in full for the 23 kilometer Agbokim Waterfall road after it was awarded.
According to him, “When it was paid, our leader, Senator John Owan Enoh was part of the people that held the contract. As I speak with you today, the money that is in that account is left with 10 million naira.
“They started withdrawing that money and senator John will tell his followers that he knows nothing about the money and because of the emotions of the people they don’t want to care.
“Owan Enoh still came again in this very regime and flagged up that road and monies have been paid complete.”
MC Okrika further challenged Enoh to defend himself.
In response to the allegations linking him to the controversy regarding the deplorable condition of the road, Enoh said MC Okrika’s claims were false, malicious and politically motivated.
Enoh, who represented Cross River Central Senatorial District between 2015 and 2019, as a senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, gave clarifications on the issue in a statement on Wednesday.
His words: “I am compelled to respond to a trending video circulated by one MC Okrika on May 26, 2026, in which deliberate falsehoods, distortions and malicious allegations were made against my person regarding the deplorable condition of the Agbokim Waterfall Road.
“Let me state from the outset that this response must not be misconstrued as an attempt to excuse, defend, or trivialize the unacceptable condition of the road and the daily hardship endured by our people and neighboring communities. I share in these pains personally.
“As someone who has remained deeply connected to his roots and accessible to his people throughout my years in public service, I travel home regularly and experience firsthand the frustration, discomfort and economic setbacks caused by the current state of the road.
“However, while genuine concerns about the road are legitimate, the reckless falsehood peddled by MC Okrika, particularly the claim that I avoided the road during my recent visit by taking an alternative route is completely false, mischievous and clearly part of his coordinated smear campaign designed to tarnish my reputation and mislead the public.
“Those familiar with my concerns/ interventions on the Agbokim Waterfall Road know that I have consistently acknowledged that the condition of the road remains one of the greatest disappointments in my otherwise distinguished record in public service.
“At no point have I shied away from admitting the seriousness of the problem. What must equally be made clear, however, is that the prolonged deterioration of the road has never been due to indifference, neglect or lack of sustained effort on my part.”
According to him, for the purpose of clarity and public enlightenment, he revealed that, “the road has remained under an active NDDC contract for years: For virtually all the years the Agbokim Waterfall Road has remained in a deplorable condition, the road has been under a valid contract awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“The initial contract for the reconstruction of the road was awarded around 2009 to a company called JAMEON Nigeria Ltd. Because it was a company with no known record, the senate leader then, Senator Ndoma Egba (SAN) and I, signed a joint protest letter addressed to the then Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Engr Emeka Eze, against the award. Regrettably, we were ignored.
“Unfortunately, the execution of the contract by Jameon was plagued by an extremely slow pace of work and glaring incompetence. Years later, the road’s continued deplorable state more than vindicated the concerns we raised from the onset.
“I fought consistently for the revocation and the re-award of the failed contract: Following the glaring failure of JAMEON Nigeria Ltd., despite records indicating that the company had reportedly received nearly half of the contract sum, I continued to pressure the NDDC authorities for the contract to be revoked and reassigned to a more credible contractor.
“After sustained engagement with both the NDDC as well as the supervising minister and even the presidency, the NDDC eventually revoked the contract in the last quarter of 2024.
“Consequently, the contract for the emergency construction of the road in four lots was awarded to two companies, Faith Plant and Rhema around the last quarter of 2024. By January 2025, the NDDC formally handed over the road to the contractors.
“The claim that I own the contract is false, malicious, and defamatory: Let me categorically and unequivocally state that neither I nor any proxy linked to me has ever been awarded the Agbokim Waterfall Road contract.
“The insinuation by MC Okrika that I own the contract is a blatant lie fabricated to deceive the public and assassinate my character. It is malicious, defamatory, and borne purely out of hatred, mischief and political bitterness.
Throughout my years in public office, I have conducted myself with integrity and an abiding respect for ethical standards.
“I have never solicited for, demanded, or received any financial benefit from any contractor handling the project. My commitment to public service and accountability will never permit such conduct.”
The minister further revealed that the current slow progress on the road was largely due to funding challenges.
“It is a known fact that the current contractors moved with speed immediately they took over the road. However, the slow pace currently being witnessed on the project is due to funding challenges.
“Nonetheless, I have continued to actively engage the leadership of the NDDC and other relevant bodies to overcome this challenge and ensure the full resumption and completion of work on the road.
“Beyond this, I have continued to make personal efforts to mobilize resources and alternative funding aimed at accelerating progress on the project because I understand fully the strategic and economic importance of the road to our people.
“While MC Okrika chooses to weaponize the suffering of our people for cheap political attacks and social media relevance, I remain focused on solutions, not propaganda. My commitment to the people has never been driven by noise-making or opportunism, but by genuine service and tangible impact.
In reaffirming his commitment to the people, Enoh said “my love for my community and my dedication to the welfare of the people I represent remain unquestionable. Indeed, the people have always been at the center of my political philosophy and my public service engagements, both in the legislative and executive arms of government where I have had the rare privilege to serve.
“Ironically, even in the course of his ill-motivated attack, MC Okrika inadvertently acknowledged one of the many intervention programmes I currently champion — the Statewide MSME Intervention Programme designed to empower small businesses and expand economic opportunities for our people.
“Public service comes with sacrifices, including unfair criticism, deliberate misinformation and politically motivated attacks. I have accepted this reality long ago.
However, no amount of coordinated hostility or sponsored blackmail will distract me from my responsibility to continue serving my people diligently and honourably.
“The undeniable truth remains that the Agbokim Waterfall Road requires urgent and lasting intervention. I remain confident that under the very able leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration I am privileged to serve as member of cabinet, the project will ultimately receive the attention and completion it deserves.
“I therefore urge our people to remain patient, vigilant and supportive as ongoing efforts continue to ensure that this important road is fully reconstructed for the benefit of present and future generations.”
