By: Imo Thomas -Umuahia.
The Governor of Abia state, Dr. Alex Otti has said that his administration is ever committed to the expansion of the boundaries of Enyimba city through quality infrastructures of the outskirts by laying quality road foundations.
Governor Otti made this known on Wednesday while officially flagging off the construction of the long-abandoned 12.6 Kilometres Ohanze – Ntighauzu – Obete – Umuoha – Oberete – Abiaka – Akirika Obu Road in Obingwa and Ukwa East LGAs of Abia State.
The Governor, speaking at the Orie Agalaba Junction in Obingwa LGA, the venue of the flag-off ceremony, in a speech titled “Still On The Crusade To Connect Our Communities”, described the road as economically strategic.
The Governor further noted that the Ohanze – Ntighauzo – Obete – Umuoha – Oberete – Akirika Obu Road is an economic life wire whose abandonment for several years by past administrations shows profound neglect that parts of the State have suffered.
He said that the project aligns with his administration’s development vision for the expansion of Aba and expressed commitment to expanding the urban boundaries of Enyimba City by extending quality infrastructure to the outskirts of Aba.
“This project, I have to admit, is very dear to my heart because it aligns perfectly with the development vision of the administration for the expansion of Aba as a major urban destination.
“We are committed to expanding the urban boundaries of our beloved Enyimba city by extending quality infrastructure to the outskirts to increase the appeal to prosperity and investment, businesses and residents. Quality roads are only the foundation”.
The Governor said that the project would not just open up the area for more profitable investments in agriculture, real estate, hospitality, and retail trade, but would also mark an end to years of waste and missed opportunities, assuring that his government would deploy available resources to accomplish its development priorities for the greater Aba urban corridor.
In his goodwill message, Senator Darlington Nwokocha noted that Governor Alex Otti has, through matching his words with action, brought integrity and dignity to Governance and urged benefitting communities to take ownership of the project to ensure its timely completion and durability.
In an address, the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Otumchere Otti while noting the strategic nature of the road, said it connects many communities and links Obingwa LGA with Ukwa East LGA and regretted that the road has been deplorable for many years.
He described the project as an eloquent testimony that Governor Alex Otti understands that infrastructural development remains the bedrock of socioeconomic growth and prosperity of any society.
In their remarks, the commissioner for Information Prince Okey Kanu, and his Petroleum and Mineral Resources counterpart Prof. Joel Ogbonna while noting that the road would improve the economic well-being of their people, said that the project marks a new beginning for greater democracy dividends for the people of Obingwa and Akirika Obu of Ukwa East and expressed the hope that the ongoing Ohanku road would be extended to Ukwa East LGA.
Prince Kanu particularly used the forum to draw the attention of the Governor to the existential problem confronting the people of Akirika Obu who have been facing constant threats to their lives from their Akwa-Ibom neighbours.
In their speeches, the mayor of Obingwa LGA, Hon. Maxwell Nwadike, and his Ukwa East LGA counterpart, Hon. Chibunna Akara, Eze Nwabiaraije Eǹeogwe and other stakeholders, including Chinedu Onyeizu and Peter Azubuike while expressing the joy of their people noted that the Governor has shown the vision and passion to leave all segment of Abia better than he met it.
The event attracted many stakeholders, including members of the State Executive Council, traditional rulers, and clergymen, among others.
