Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has flagged off the reconstruction of the long abandoned 25 kilometres Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road with assurance that the work will be completed within 18 months.
Speaking while flagging-off the project on Friday, at Umuahia Timber Market, Governor Alex Otti described the project as an end to the age long nightmare of motorists and communities along that corridor .
The Governor who titled his speech, ‘The End of a Nightmare”, said that the project symbolises his administration’s commitment to reversing years of infrastructural decay and noted that his administration’s focus on road infrastructure is already yielding tangible results across the State.
Governor Otti, who disclosed that his administration does not accept the doctrine of dichotomy in road construction, explained that although the Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene Road is a Federal highway, but he decided to intervene after securing necessary approvals from the Federal Government.
“We do not accept the doctrine of dichotomy when it comes to roads, because the majority of the users are our people who, ply them daily to work or to push their agro-produce to urban markets.
“We have since made a resolute commitment that every road that passes through the length and breadth of Abia, whether designated as Federal, State, or Local Government, shall be viewed and maintained to be supportive of our economic and social endeavours” Gov. Otti stated.
Governor Otti while expressing gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for granting approval for the State to carry out the project, and the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, for his support, also commended the Federal Government for refusing to be misled by the petty designs of a few unpatriotic political actors from the State, who he said, attempted to scuttle the initiative just to massage their oversized egos.
Also speaking, the Senator representing Abia Central Senatorial zone at the National Assembly, Senator Austin Akobundu, and the Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Austin Nmeregini while noting that the road is a Federal road, commended Governor Otti for his resolve to fix it
They described the road as as economically strategic and lamented that the road had remained in deplorable condition for decades despite repeated assurances by previous administrations.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Otumchere Oti, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Izuchukwu Onwughara, said that the project, which would transform and change the lives of Abians would break a jinx of over 40 years of deplorable State.
He described the project as “a testament to the visionary leadership of His Excellency, the Governor of Abia State, who has prioritized infrastructural development as a cornerstone for economic growth and social progress”, Engr. Oti stated.
While noting that the road would have solar street lights and other necessary features, the Commissioner enjoined the beneficiaries to take ownership of the road and cooperate with the contractor.
Also, the President General, Ndume Otuka Autonomous Community, Sir John Onyiro lamented that the road has been used for political campaigns by succesive administrations and commended Governor Otti for remembering the people and assured him that the people would ensure that he is reelected in 2027.
In a live virtual interview with the member representing the good people of Ikwuano – Umuahia Federal Constituency in the Green Chamber, Hon. Obi Aguocha, he noted that Gov. Otti has broken jinx across the 3 zones of Abia State by fixing strategic infrastructures long forgotten by successive Governments for 2 decades and above. The soft spoken Hon. Aguocha pointed at Port-Harcourt and Ohanku Roads in Abia South zone, the Omenuko Bridge and the defying of the age long myth associated with the difficulty in accessing Arochukwu in Abia North zone, and today in Abia Central, the highly strategic Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road, including the Ariam Usaka Ring Road which has never seen caterpillars before now. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Gov. Otti, and said that the 2 projects are personal to him as it directly affects his constituents from Umuahia to Ikwuano.
The flag-off attracted many dignitaries and stakeholders from all walks of life.
Ctz. UKOHA, NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State
