Akwa Ibom State Government is facing renewed scrutiny over the utilisation of over ₦2.53 trillion in the past 36 months, following a statement by civil society group PDP Advocates for Peace and Justice (PAPA-J).

The group in a statement signed by its Chairman, Dr Tom FredFish, made available to newsmen in Uyo Friday said the government’s response to a Premium Times investigative report was evasive and failed to provide clear evidence of completed projects.

PAPA-J questioned the state’s list of projects, saying many remain at preliminary stages or only exist as announcements. “Groundbreaking is not completion. Announcement is not delivery. Animation is not infrastructure,” the group said.

It added that citizens need verifiable evidence of roads, hospitals, industrial and tourism investments cited by the government.

The group also challenged the claim that over 1,200 kilometres of roads have been completed or are ongoing, demanding details on locations, quality, and cost. “No serious observer can point to any transformational or legacy project that reflects the magnitude of such colossal revenue,” PAPA-J said.

Recall that the Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Information, Aniekan Umanah had defended the administration, citing inflation and currency depreciation as factors affecting project delivery. He said the government has ongoing and completed infrastructure on education, health, and tourism projects, and insisted all records are verifiable and open for public scrutiny.

But, PAPA-J maintained that the state must publish a detailed, itemized breakdown of expenditures, project timelines, and independent audit results.