Mekelle፡Telaviv, Nairobi, Pretoria, London, (Tigray Herald)
Unmasking the Rot: How Maakib Construction and Complicit Officials Are Undermining Public Trust and Development in the Region
Over the past seven years, Maakib Construction helmed by the elusive figure known as Dhiire has emerged not as a symbol of progress, but as a case study in systemic failure, financial mismanagement, and alleged corruption. Despite securing contracts totaling over 23 billion birr, Maakib has delivered little more than broken promises, half-finished projects, and a wake of public disillusionment.
Billions Spent, Nothing Delivered
From crumbling hospitals to dry water systems, the pattern is both clear and disturbing: public money disappears, while communities remain without basic services.
One glaring example is the Wardheer District Hospital, a critical facility that remains unbuilt despite substantial disbursement of funds. Similarly, the God-God District water supply project, reportedly valued at 150 million birr, completely collapsed. Not a single day of water was delivered; instead, poorly installed pipes burst within days – a damning indicator of the substandard materials used.
These are not isolated incidents. They are symptoms of a deeper, more dangerous rot within the public contracting system – one that is fueled by unholy alliances between contractors and powerful officials.
Corruption in High Places
Investigations and whistleblower accounts point to high-ranking figures within the regional administration as enablers of Maakib’s unchecked reign. Notably:
– Hussein Kasim, Minister of the Presidency, and- Hassan Tadhi, former Minister of Water,
are both accused of quietly steering contracts towards Maakib through closed-door dealings, bypassing competitive bidding and ignoring technical evaluations. In doing so, they have not only undermined the principles of fair governance but have also crippled development in the region.
Their complicity has allowed Maakib to operate with impunity, despite a well-documented trail of project failures.
These backroom dealings have turned public service into a private cash machine for
the well-connected.
A System of Exploitation
This is not merely a scandal about one construction firm. Maakib represents a larger, more dangerous pattern: an entrenched system of corruption that is bleeding the region dry, hijacking development, and destroying trust in public institutions.
Communities are left with deteriorating roads, non-functional clinics, and broken infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the elite few grow richer by the day, protected by layers of bureaucracy and silence.
The Call for Accountability
The people of this region deserve better. They deserve hospitals that heal, schools that teach, and infrastructure that works. But above all, they deserve honest governance.
We call for:
– An independent investigation into all contracts awarded to Maakib Construction and similarly dubious firms.
– A full audit of regional public spending over the last seven years.
– Legal action against all those – contractors and officials alike – found to have abused their positions.
Silence is no longer an option. Justice delayed is development denied.
What Comes Next
In the coming days, we will publish detailed reports on the specific failed projects linked to Maakib Construction. Each story will uncover the truth behind the contracts, the money that vanished, and the promises betrayed.
This is not just about exposing corruption. It’s about reclaiming the future for our people, our region, and our next generation.
#DemandAccountability
#ExposeCorruption
#RebuildTrust
Azim Hussein
Email:azim29269@gmail.com
Azim Hussein is a freelance writer and governance advocate based in Jigjiga Somali region.
