Beyond Road, A Jinx Is Being Broken

Being the Text of a Speech Delivered by Governor Alex C. Otti, OFR, at the Flag-off of the Reconstruction of the Ohafia-Arochukwu Highway on August 28, 2024, at Old Soldier Junction, Ebem Ohafia.

Governor Otti Flags-off the Reconstruction of Ohafia-Arochukwu Highway

Protocols,

The most important foundation of our administration is trust, the principle that we are sincerely committed to consistently deliver on the promises we made to the people while we sought their votes, and in the day-to-day business of governance. As a government, our most important obligation is to solve problems — ease the burden facing the people, create economic-advancement opportunities within communities, and build new systems of advantages for the next generation.
For several decades, coming into Arochukwu from anywhere was an uphill task which prompted the old cliché ‘na o nweghi uzo e si a ga Aro di nso’ literally translated as ‘there is no easy route to Arochukwu’. Today, we have come to begin a holistic process that will put an end to this age-old nightmare and give fellow Abians living in the over 60 communities and clans around this corridor, a new lease of life.
On this note distinguished ladies and gentlemen, let me formally welcome you to the flag-off of the reconstruction of the 41.4 kilometre Ohafia-Arochukwu Road. Before I proceed, permit me to give glory and honour to the almighty God who made today possible. May His name continue to be praised for ever and ever. Built in the 1960s by the Dr. Michael Okpara administration as a major artery connecting several communities and towns within this part of the Eastern region, this road quickly became a major economic enabler leading to a boom in agriculture, commerce, and tourism as individuals and families came in their numbers to either trade, or visit the many important National Heritage Sites in Arochukwu including the ‘Osu gwodo gwodo’ Waterfall, the Ibini Ukpabi Shrine and other places of interest for research and leisure purposes.
This road served not just communities in the present-day Abia State, it created windows of economic opportunities for our brothers and sisters in today’s Cross River and Akwa Ibom States who were regulars in our local markets, trading with our people, providing important agricultural and ancillary services, and learning in our institutions. On account of the fact that the road provided smooth passage to communities outside our boundaries, our kith and kin were also able to pursue their dreams to wherever the environment was promising. There were practically no limits to our ambition and drive for success, thanks to the vision of the Sir Michael Okpara-led Eastern Region Government. It is for this purpose that we are taking this road to our border with Akwa Ibom State. Luckily, Akwa Ibom had several years ago, constructed their own portion of the road.
Sadly, things deteriorated quickly as public servants abandoned the vision and orientation that drove the M. I. Okparas of this world to think beyond self and make the necessary sacrifices that give life to bold ideas. Just like our leadership standard, this road and the economic and social opportunities it created, suffered a terrible fate as it was first forgotten, and then completely abandoned.
There was great jubilation and hope of a turnaround in the mid-1990s when the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund, an intervention agency set up by the General Sani Abacha military junta, awarded a contract for the reconstruction of the 71.8 kilometre Umuahia-Arochukwu Road. The project started smoothly from the Umuahia section but stopped abruptly following the demise of the then military Head of State and the eventual scrapping of the PTF. The expectation of our people was cut short and the misery lingered, almost interminably.
Being a federal road, previous administrations in the State considered that it was better to let the Federal Government fix it. With many considered haphazard attempts made by Abuja to undertake the reconstruction around 2012, funds were reportedly approved but for some mysterious reasons, nothing significant happened and the people continued to live with the daily despair of passing through what several respected newspaper columnists described as the “worst federal road in Nigeria.”
What we have come to do today is to take our destiny in our hands, convinced that the Federal Government, whose approval we have fully obtained to execute this project, will eventually do what is right and fair in the long-term economic interest of the good people of Abia State. We have sincerely taken this bold initiative in order to save the Federal Government the embarrassment this road has brought it before international visitors and tourists. Our intent is to give Nigerians who are resident in this part of the country or travelling through this road for business and social engagements, a sense of belonging because no nation should watch its citizens pass through the nightmare our people have endured for years.
The suggestion by the FGN to toll the road at the end of the reconstruction may actually not be the best way of rewarding the faithful taxpayers in these communities after what they had been through. I will again plead with the federal government to consider making the necessary financial provisions to eventually reimburse the State since we have taken the bull by the horn by doing what a responsible government should do for the citizens. This appeal is very important considering that this very project will unleash new layers of opportunities that will have significant economic impacts, especially for federal revenue.
Permit me to specially appreciate the State Commissioner for Works, Engr. Don Otumchere Oti, and his team for the robust engagement with their counterparts at the Federal Ministry of Works to evaluate and review the technical details of this project. This was necessary to guarantee smooth execution, and the long term durability of the road on completion. We are optimistic that their supervisory binoculars will be very active till the project is successfully delivered because it is a commitment we have undertaken.
Let me also acknowledge the honourable minister of works, HE, Sen. David Umahi for his commitment and co operation which made today possible.
This reconstruction project aligns perfectly with our integrated development agenda of creating new pathways of opportunities for individuals and communities. Recall that presently, our contractors are doing a fantastic job on the Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Ohafia Road; work is also progressing smoothly on the Arochukwu-Ndi Okereke-Ozuabam Road. I have been given very firm assurances that the projects will be completed on schedule which makes today’s flag-off very imperative. The target is to effectively restore the State’s agricultural corridor to serve multiple layers of needs including job creation, poverty alleviation and long-term food security.
Even then, we are looking beyond agriculture which is why we are strategically opening up this zone to create a new window for investors. With abundant deposit of limestone and kaolin in this part of the State, I have no doubt that today’s event will send a positive signal to those who have ears and eyes for opportunities that the time to expand to new frontiers has arrived. Recall also that in Aba and Umuahia zones, we are ramping up investments in infrastructural development projects, building investors’ confidence and sending a clear message to the world that this is the best time to do business in Abia.
Beyond primary production activities, we have our eyes on the bigger picture. We are very favourably disposed to listen to offers that will include significant value addition to the primary products in ways that will improve our GDP and shore up our industrial capacity.
As we mentioned in our manifesto, our development framework is designed to create opportunities in every part of the State. We are determined to create incentives that will encourage individuals to stay back and contribute to the development of their communities, raise families and enjoy the fruits of their labour.
Beyond economic activities, the Ohafia-Arochukwu Road project is also connected to our education transformation initiative. Recall that the Abia State College of Education (Technical) Arochukwu (ASCETA) has seen a worrisome decline in its fortune over the years due challenges with poor access road to the institution. This difficulty hampered our manpower development programme for the education sector as students and teachers who are interested in continuous development programmes would rather go elsewhere than come to ASCETA for their training.
As this reconstruction project takes off today, ASCETA, like other institutions and businesses around here, will begin to experience a new lease of life. Furthermore, public and private schools will now have the drive to send their teachers to the institution for training.
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, you will agree with me that this project is more than just a road reconstruction initiative. It is about creating an entire ecosystem of interconnected opportunities that cuts across agriculture, commerce, tourism, education and industrial manufacturing. Today’s programme and what happens in the next 18 months, when this project is expected to be delivered, will be fundamentally strategic to our long-term development agenda.
The success of this project is hinged in large part on the cooperation of every stakeholder; please do whatever you can to support the entire team that will be working on every metre of this 41.4 kilometre stretch of road. Infact, I gave an instruction and the contractors have committed to start this project from two locations: the Ohafia and the Arochukwu ends of the road and meet in the middle. May I also encourage us to be steadfast in the payment of our taxes and other statutory fees because that is how these projects are funded. One assurance I will repeat here is that your funds are safe with us and will be applied strictly to the execution of projects and programmes that are tied to our collective economic and social wellbeing.
Like I mentioned yesterday as we marked the 33rd anniversary of the creation of our State, a new epoch is upon us and it is up to us as a collective to preserve what we have won by our toils and labour or throw it away. We have to insist that never again will any road in the State be allowed to deteriorate for decades without attention, be they federal, state or local.
Nothing, as I had mentioned repeatedly, is given in politics unless it is fought for. Having had a taste of responsive governance, we must be vigilant to ensure that those who are only interested in political offices and the perks without the responsibility of service are forever banished from abusing the privilege of public trust. To build a great Abia is our collective responsibility, and I can happily assure you that we are on the right track.
Thank you for listening and may God bless you all.