Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Residents of Aba, the commercial capital of Abia State, were yesterday excited as Governor Alex Otti, handed over nine roads within the metropolis to various contractors for palliative work pending the completion of the necessary protocols for their full reconstruction.
A number of roads in the economic city are in deplorable condition due to gross neglect by previous administrations.
Some of the affected roads include: University Road, Abayi, Green Avenue, Udeagbala Road, Shallom Road, Umuimo Road, Old Express Road, Abak Road with adjoining streets, Queens Street, and Jubilee Road.
Otti said “the process of rejuvenating Aba,” had commenced with the roads rehabilitation.
He also said that de-silting of other roads would begin simultaneously to restore the glory of the Enyimba City.
The Governor defied the afternoon rain as he toured the deplorable roads in different parts of the commercial city with the contractors.
He was accomplished by some top Government officials including the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Emmanuel Emeruwa; his deputy, Rt Hon Augustine Meregini and the deputy Majority Leader, Hon Destiny Akaraka Nwagwu, were cheered by excited residents.
Gov. Otti who spoke at different spots of the roads said time had come to rebuild Abia from the ruins of bad governance.
He said that he was committed to fulfilling his campaign promises.
“We had promised that we are going to rebuild the roads. The first thing is that we clear the drainages, because if we don’t do that, we won’t be able to build roads that would last.
“As you can see on this Azikiwe Road, the main job here is to clear the drainages, desilt them and open up the flow of water to Aba River.
“There are a few roads we want to rebuild completely and those are the roads that we have come to handover to the contractors today,” Governor Otti told the excited crowd.
“Some of the roads that will receive immediate attention in order to “significantly reduce the sufferings of motorists within Aba” are, namely: University Road, Abayi, Green Avenue, Udeagbala Road Shallom Road, Umuimo Road, Old Express Road, Abak Road with adjoining streets, Queens Street, and Jubilee Road.”
