Under the leadership of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, Abia State has undergone unprecedented transformation in virtually all fields of human endeavor. One area, however, where the government has been particularly outstanding is roads infrastructure. From the moment the governor assumed office in May 2023, he set to work immediately, seeking to rebuild the roads in the State, especially in the major towns of Aba and Umuahia, which were at various stages of dilapidation.
Prior to his emergence as governor, Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the State was notorious for bad roads and environmental decay, as the infrastructure in the city were completely broken down while all the nooks and crannies of the once vibrant town were overtaken by heaps of refuse. Aba, to all intents and purposes, became a byword for urban decay.
The city was groaning under the heavy weight of impassable roads and stinking refuse dumps all over the place. There was indeed a complete retreat of government from its responsibilities and obligations to the city. For 24 years that the State was governed by the Peoples Democratic Party, Aba was abandoned by a successive set of heartless and greedy buccaneers who cared little about the development of the State.
A classic example of the decay in Aba was the strategic Port Harcourt road which was abandoned for 24 years and lost to floods and refuse. The road completely collapsed. All the businesses in the area closed shops and relocated elsewhere in the country with the consequent job losses. Within one year in office, Otti has recovered the road in fulfilment of his election campaign promise to the people of Aba.
For the first time, the construction giant, Julius Berger, was brought in to reconstruct the road. The amazing transformation that has been done on the road by Julius Berger has become a source of joy and happiness to the residents of Enyimba city. The brand new road is expected to be commissioned before the end of the year.
The governor has since gone ahead to rebuild several other roads in the commercial city that were in terrible stages of dilapidation. Today, Aba has returned to its glory as choice destination for business and enterprise.
Umuahia, the state capital and other towns are not left out in the ongoing social and economic revolution in the State. Under the watch of Otti, the aesthetics of Umuahia have been incredibly enhanced. The modernization and expansion of the main approach road into Umuahia city into six beautiful lanes remain the flagship project of the Otti administration in Abia State.
The road, after its commissioning early this year, was renamed Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard in honour of the nation`s first Military Head of State and an indigene of Umuahia. It is now a pleasurable experience driving into Umuahia from the Abia Tower on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
In spite of the much that has been achieved by Otti in the roads sector, he has recently awarded fresh contracts for the construction and reconstruction of nine strategic roads spread across the three senatorial zones of the State.
They include the 5.5 km Onuimo-Abia Tower road, Umuahia; 7.15 km Onuinyang-Okporoenyi-Oboro road; 6.8 km Okporoenyi-Oboro-Ikwuano road; 11.5 Ntigha-Mbawsi-Umuala in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area (LGA); 11.1 km Obehie-Umudiabia-Owaza road in Ukwa West LGA; 11.27 km Mbala-Umuaku-Ngodo road in Umunneochi LGA; 2.21 km Umuogo-Nsukwe-Ubakala Ring road, Umuahia South LGA; 12.6 km Ohanze-Ntighauzo-Obete-Akirika road in Obingwa and Ukwa East LGAs and the 6.9 km Umuopara Ring Road in Umuahia South LGA.
A critical glance at the choice of these roads shows clearly that Otti is persuaded by the principles of need, equity, and fairness. Otti also seems to be strongly persuaded by the economic importance of these roads to the State. Three examples would suffice. First, the 11.1 km Obehie-Umudiabia-Owaza road lies within the Abia Industrial and Innovation Park, which the governor is building in the oil and gas rich zone of the State. When completed, the road would open up that axis of the State as the new industrial frontier of Abia with a huge potential for employment opportunities for the teeming youths in the State.
Secondly, the 7.15 km Onuinyang-Okporoenyi-Oboro road cuts across Ikwuano and Bende LGAs which lie in the food producing belt of the state. This road, on completion, would completely open up the various farming communities along that corridor, and thereby boosting the economies of the local population within the area.
Thirdly, the 5.5 km Onuimo-Abia Tower road in Umuahia is another signature project of the Otti administration. The road is a continuation of the Abia Tower-Ossah road, now known as Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard. The stretch from Abia Tower to Onuimo is to be similarly expanded into six lanes and beautified with all the necessary aesthetics. On completion, motorists and travelers coming into Umuahia from Imo State through the Ounimo boundary with Abia would have a pleasurable experience driving into Umuahia.
The dualisation and expansion of the road into six lanes with the necessary lightings would dramatically enhance the status of the capital city and add to its aesthetic value. Umuahia would never be same again.
The people of Abia State are very delighted with the Midas touch which Otti has brought into governance. Otti has shown incredible capacity in rewriting the past story of failure and incompetence. With the rebuilding process aggressively going all over the State, indeed, a new Abia is here.
To God be the glory !
Nwosu, a public affairs analyst, writes from Umuahia. Email: cdnwosu2@gmail.com
