Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has flagged off the reconstruction of a 25-kilometre section of the long-abandoned 51-kilometre Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene federal road, assuring that the project will be completed within 18 months.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at the Umuahia Timber Market, Governor Otti described the project as the end of a decades-long nightmare for motorists and communities along the route. He said the project underscored his administration’s resolve to reverse years of infrastructural decay in the state.
According to him, his administration does not recognize any “doctrine of dichotomy” in road construction, stressing that the welfare of Abians takes precedence over jurisdictional boundaries.
“Although the Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road is a federal highway, we decided to intervene after securing the necessary approvals from the Federal Government,” Otti said.
“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 move their agro-produce to urban markets. We have made a resolute commitment that every road that passes through Abia—whether federal, state, or local—will be maintained to support our economic and social development.”
Governor Otti expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for granting approval for the project and to the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, for his support. He also commended the Federal Government for not yielding to “the petty designs of a few unpatriotic political actors” from the state who, he said, tried to frustrate the initiative.
Speaking at the event, Senator Austin Akobundu (Abia Central) and the Deputy Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Austin Nmeregini, praised Governor Otti’s decision to rehabilitate the federal road, describing it as economically strategic. They lamented that the road had been in a deplorable condition for decades despite repeated promises by successive governments.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Otumchere Oti—represented by the Permanent Secretary, Engr. Izuchukwu Onwughara—said the project would break a 40-year jinx of neglect and transform the lives of Abians. He described it as “a testament to the visionary leadership of Governor Otti, who has prioritized infrastructure as a cornerstone of economic growth and social progress.”
He further disclosed that the reconstructed road would feature solar-powered streetlights and other modern facilities, and urged residents to take ownership of the project and cooperate with the contractor.
Also speaking, the President General of Ndume Otuka Autonomous Community, Sir John Onyiro, lamented that successive administrations had only used the road for political campaigns. He thanked Governor Otti for remembering the people and pledged the community’s support for his re-election in 2027.
