Governor Alex Otti addressing the people of Ukwa during the flag off
Era of neglecting Ukwa land is over, Otti promises
*Flags off 11.1-kilometre Obehie – Umudobia – Owaza road
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has promised Ukwa people that his administration would not leave the area in the backwaters of development.
Governor Otti who made the promise on Tuesday while officially flagging-off the reconstruction of the 11.1-kilometre Obehie – Umudobia – Owaza road in Ukwa West Local Government Area of the state at St. Ann Secondary School, Obehie Asa, said that the road, when completed, will not only provide access for the people, but would also boost marketability and viability of the Abia Industrial and Innovative Park (AIIP) located in Owaza.
The Governor who declared that the era of neglecting Ukwa people was over, said that Ukwa would no longer be a forgotten place.
“Today, we officially declare that the era of neglect of Ukwa and all the communities within the land is over.
“Ukwa shall no longer be a forgotten place. Your land will yield forth it’s best fruits and your barns shall never be empty again. You will enjoy the riches of the environment and the oil in your land shall bring you boundless prosperity.
“You will not only get what is due you at the resource allocation table, the various levers of our administration shall collaborate extensively with agencies like the Abia State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (ASOPADEC), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and other interventionist establishments to restore the years that has been lost to the politics of exclusion and deceit,” Governor Otti said.
Also in response to various requests from Ukwa leaders, the Governor assured that reconstruction of Umuzike – Obokwe – Ngwaiyiekwe road would commence soon since it was approved in the 2025 budget.
He promised to restore electricity in Asa land before the end of this month and directed the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr. Ikechukwu Monday to visit the area and assess what it would take to restore electricity to the area.
On the appeal for portable water, the Governor said that he has already declared a state of emergency in the water sub-sector, assuring that the water problem confronting many communities in the state will soon be a thing of the past.
Accord to the Governor, significant changes would occur in Ukwa after the completion of the road, as he disclosed that the federal government has approved the establishment of a modular refinery to be cited inside the AIIP.
“This (road) project is therefore not just about creating access to the towns and villages along this corridor, it is more about reviving dormant economic assets, opening new horizons and reigniting the dreams that once stirred the souls of our fathers.
“I’ll like to inform you that just a few days ago, we got the good news that the federal government has approved a modular refinery which would be cited inside the AIIP. That modular refinery will be built by H.I.S. Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited.
“My assurance is that every support we can give as a government shall be availed you as we work together to create a robust industrial cluster that will accelerate the rapid socio-economic development of the area and fast-track the restoration of the years lost to poor leadership,” he said.
Addressing the gathering, the Member representing Ukwa-West State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Godwin Adiele, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna, and the Mayor of Ukwa-West Local Government Area, Pastor Dike Nwankwo, expressed happiness and gratitude of Asa people to the Governor.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Otumchere Oti, while noting that Governor Otti has continued to connect communities through road infrastructure, described the Obehie – Umudobia – Owaza road as a gateway into Asa land and the AIIP.
Engr. Oti noted that the project, with 12-months delivery timeline, would equally open up the area for greater economic opportunities by creating direct and indirect jobs as well as increase heavy financial flow into the area.
Also speaking, the General Manager, Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC), Venerable Joshua Onyeike, said the Governor has provided the commission with a level playing ground to perform its statutory mandate of providing essential services to oil producing communities, adding that the Governor has in many ways demonstrated his love for Ukwa people.
In their goodwill messages, a former legislator in the Old Imo State, Dame Victoria Akanwa, and a former Secretary to Abia State Government (SSG), Pastor Ralph Egbu, said Governor Alex Otti has recorded landmark achievements across the state, emphasizing that the reconstruction of the road would rescue the people of Ukwa from bad roads which dot the area. They appealed for the restoration of electricity and portable water supply in the area.
President-General of Asa Development Union, Elder Goodluck Nwauju, said in his address that the Governor has through the road project, AIIP and the recovery of over 10, 000 hectares of land earlier taken over by the previous administration for a non-existent Enyimba Economic City project, demonstrated his love for Ndi-Asa.
The flag off ceremony attracted many dignitaries, especially major stakeholders of various opposition parties in Ukwa land agreed that Governor Otti was performing beyond expectation and should be supported.
