30KM OF THE AROCHUKWU-OZUABAM ROAD IS FLAGGED OFF BY GOV OTTI, SAYS THAT NO PART OF ABIA WOULD BE LEFT BEHIND
Abia State Governor Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, announced the start of construction of a new strategic route on Wednesday, connecting three communities in Abia North.
This comes less than two months after he announced the reconstruction of the Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Abiriba-Ohafia road, a major corridor connecting the state capital with communities in the northern part of the state.
Governor Otti’s 30-kilometer Arochukwu-Ndi Okereke-Ozuabam Road addresses the long-standing issue that there isn’t a convenient way to get from Abia to Arochukwu. For a number of years, people have been traveling to Arochukwu on rather good terrain, passing via villages in Akwa Ibom State before returning to Abia.
The federal road that would have provided the solution—connecting Akwa Ibom to Abia via Arochukwu to Ohafia, Bende, and Umuahia—has been awarded multiple times but never built. As a result, the road is still inaccessible and prone to erosion. As is the 67 km section that, under Governor Otti’s administration, is currently being rebuilt to link Umuahia to Uzuakoli, Abiriba, and Ohafia.
Governor Otti pledged at the groundbreaking of the Arochukwu-Ndi Okereke-Ozuabam Road that no area of Abia would be left behind in the development of road infrastructure, as the administration is committed to opening up every region of the state to stimulate the state’s economy.
“We are now broadening the scope to cover roads that connect our agricultural zones to the urban areas in order to boost the State’s agricultural output and expand our economic corridors to create jobs for thousands of our young people while taming rural-urban migration, starting with some of the most strategically important roads in Aba and Umuahia.
On this occasion, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me to formally welcome you to the official kickoff of the 30-kilometer Arochukwu-Ndi Okereke-Ozuabam Road rehabilitation.
The clear message is that no section of the State shall be left behind in our quest to expand the frontiers of economic and social opportunities for individuals, families, and companies. This comes only weeks after work on the 67-kilometer Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Ohafia Road began, Governor Otti confirmed.
The Governor stated that in order to get the quality of work that is expected, the state government has continued to work with respectable engineering construction companies that share its vision for delivering road infrastructure. The Governor also mentioned that the government was concerned with getting the most out of the money that taxpayers paid to execute the projects.
We have carefully selected civil engineering firms with outstanding project execution histories for Port Harcourt Road in Aba, Ossah Road in Umuahia, and the more than thirty road projects that are ongoing concurrently in various parts of the State. Obtaining equivalent value for each kobo of tax payer money spent is our top priority.
When the Arochukwu-Ndi Okereke-Ozuabam Road is finished, which should happen in about a year, it will revitalize the agricultural and related business ecosystem in a number of communities in the Arochukwu and Ohafia LGAs and provide more opportunities for those looking to invest in the New Abia and take advantage of its promises.
In order to ensure that the section of road from this axis to Umuahia and Aba is in optimal condition and facilitate hassle-free transportation of people, agricultural products, and related commodities from the northern part of the State to the urban centers, it is strategically important to fix this road concurrently with the Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Ohafia Road.
“Rebuilding these roads will not only support the economic endeavors of individuals and businesses, but it will also enhance the social dynamics within the communities by reducing the risk of travel and providing an additional incentive for our relatives who live far away to visit their homes more frequently for social events and engagements.
By making such a large commitment to these road improvements, we hope to improve ties between communities and pave the way for the tourism industry to grow quickly. It would be simpler for our friends and acquaintances to visit our villages from anywhere in the world once the contractors finish their work so they may see our cultural and traditional activities as often as they would want, Governor Otti continued.
In order to truly make Abia the best place in the country for development, he urged Abians to support government efforts by carrying out their civic duties to the state by paying specified taxes, rates, levies, and protecting public utilities and facilities. He also issued a warning that the government would not tolerate acts of vandalism or the criminal destruction of public infrastructure.
Speaking, Hon. Uchenna Okoro, the member representing the Arochukwu State Constituency, Joe Ezearu, the mayor of Arochukwu Local Government Area, Eze Linus Nto Mbah, the chairman of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, and Eze Aro, Eze Eberechukwu Oji, described how their people had suffered for a long time due to road neglect and thanked Governor Otti for providing assistance.
Prior to this, Engineer Don Oti, the Commissioner for Works, stated that building the road would guarantee that the design parameters would be followed and would stimulate the local villages’ economies.
KAZIE UKO
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
Abia State
Government House, Umuahia
March 21, 2024.
