Abia and Akwa Ibom state governments have forged a partnership to ensure accessibility of roads linking the two neighbouring states.
The understanding was reached during a condolence visit on Governor Umo Eno by the Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, at the Government House at the weekend.
The PUNCH reported that Eno lost his wife, Patience, on 26 September.
“She passed away peacefully at the hospital, on 26th September 2024, in the presence of her family”, the statement announcing her death read.
Speaking during the condolence visit to the Akwa Ibom Government House, Otti noted that Mrs Eno’s impactful life spoke volumes and her demise a grievous loss for the state and the nation.
He encouraged Eno to continue his people-oriented projects and assured him of Abia’s support to fix the roads linking the two states, for the socioeconomic benefits of citizens.
“We will work collaboratively to fix the roads linking our states for the socioeconomic interest of our citizens”, Otti said.
Speaking, Eno appreciated the visit and described the kindness as a source of strength.
“We want to thank you first of all Sir, for not just the visit, but all of the calls and encouragement.
“As I say to people, the loss of my wife is a lifetime loss. We courted for two years, and we have been married for 38 years. So 40 years is not something one can easily forget.
“It is like half of me is gone, but she was an accomplished woman. She made her impact, joined me to pastor our ministry and did excellently well in managing the women and building homes”, Eno maintained.
Eno assured Otti of his readiness to collaborate in expediting intervention on the Ikot Ekpene-Aba road, as well as remedy the defective portion of the Ini-Arochukwu road.
He also promised to jointly initiate other actions to ensure the accessibility of economically viable roads linking the two states.
“For the road you have talked about, if there are other roads that we can, as two states, collaborate together to work on, I am sure we are prepared to do that.
“We can look at the road and see how we can partner to work it because, at the end of the day, it is our people that will use the road.
“Aba remains a very strong regional commercial centre for all of us. I will see whatever we can do to ensure that our people have that smooth passage to and fro Aba”, Eno stated.
