10th June 2025, NewsOrient, Opinion, Column, Governance And Development, News
By Emeka Nwosu, PhD.

As Governor Alex Otti marks two years in office, the people of Abia are filled with joy that they made the right choice in Otti as their leader. They have every cause to merry and jubilate because of the remarkable achievements the government has recorded in the State within this short period.

So many landmark projects have been initiated and completed by the Otti-led administration. For a vast majority of the people, this is unprecedented, considering the fact that in the last 24 years before the emergence of Otti on the political saddle, the State had been steeped in gross misgovernance and underdevelopment. Today, the story is different. Otti has restored lost hopes and brought smiles on the faces of the good people of Abia State through the provision of impactful projects across the length and breadth of the State.

One of the key areas where the government has done exceedingly well is road infrastructure. The performance can correctly be described as a revolution. All parts of the State are witnessing this revolution. But one place where the Governor has left a lasting imprint is Aba, the commercial hub of the State. Practically all the once dilapidated roads have been rebuilt and modernized. This dramatic turn of events has brought the Enyimba City back to life.

The icing on the cake is the recovery of the strategic Port Harcourt Road which was lost to flooding and human neglect. As a result of the terrible deterioration of the road, many businesses operating in the area collapsed while others relocated elsewhere. Land lords abandoned their buildings because they could no longer access them. This was the sorry state of the Port Harcourt Road before Governor Otti came on a rescue mission. Under two years, using Julius Berger, the leading construction firm in Nigeria, he took on the task of rebuilding the road.

The appreciative people of Aba, a few weeks ago, organized a massive reception to thank Governor Otti for recovering Port Harcourt Road and bringing Aba back to life through a well-conceived urban renewal programme.

As at press time, a total of 14 roads have been lined up for commissioning in Aba alone. These are critical road projects that had been completed as part of the urban and infrastructure renewal programme of the Otti administration. It is a well-conceived agenda which is being speedily and methodically delivered on the instrumentality of the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA), a special purpose vehicle put in place by Otti to drive infrastructural development in the great Enyimba city. The roads include Umuode Road, Bakassi Road, Orsu-Ihiteukwa Road, Asa Triangle Road, Enyimba- Ariara Road Junction, Market Road, Tenant Road, Cameroun Road, Clifford Road, Afikpo Road and Eziukwu Road, amongst others.

According to a statement issued in Umuahia by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, these roads and many Primary Health Care Centres that had been reconstructed and retrofitted “are a clear demonstration of the Governor`s unwavering commitment to fulfilling promises made to the people of Abia under the New Abia vision anchored on transparent governance, infrastructure renewal, improved healthcare delivery, and socio-economic revitalization”.

The Abia State capital, Umuahia, is also not left out in the ongoing rebuilding agenda of the Otti administration. The Ossah Road which has been renamed Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard, stands out as a signature project. The road which is the main approach artery into Umuahia was expanded from four into six lanes and equipped with functional streetlights, making driving on the road a pleasurable experience.

The second segment of the road, from Abia Tower to Onu Imo Bridge, the boundary with Imo State, is currently being expanded and modernized. Last Saturday, the Governor undertook an inspection tour of the road to see things for himself. He expressed satisfaction with the rate of work which is progressing rapidly and satisfactorily.

The Umuahia town itself is being given a facelift by the government. The busy Bank Road that connects the Okpara Square to Aba and Ikot Ekpene Roads through the Government House is being expanded to free that vital land corridor from frequent traffic bottlenecks. The Michael Okpara Auditorium, one of the few government-owned facilities, used for hosting state events, is being upgraded and retrofitted by Governor Otti. It is expected to be delivered as part of the projects lined up for commissioning to mark the eventful two years of Otti in office.

Governor Otti is giving Abia a new sense of direction. By the time he is done serving his complete two terms in office, Abia will never be the same again. He has clearly demonstrated that he came prepared to take the State to greater heights.
May Abia continue to prevail!

Dr. Nwosu, a Public Policy Analyst, writes from Umuahia.
Email: cdnwosu2@gmail.com

~ Published By NewsOrient Network

For News, Inter
views, Special Events Coverage, Advertisements, Corporate Reports, etc., Contact:
Email: Newsorientng@gmail.com

Website: https://newsorientng.com
Phone: +2348023165410; +2348064041541