Otti begins reconstruction of Aba roads
… Hands over 9 road projects to contractors
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Reconstruction of nine roads in Aba, Abia’s commercial hub, would soon start, even as desilting of the drainage along Azikiwe Road in the commercial city has commenced.
The process of reconstructing the roads began on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, with the handover of the affected nine roads to contractors that would execute the projects.
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, handed the roads to the contractors. “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 ecstatic 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 and Umuimo Road. The others are Old Express Road; Abak Road with adjoining streets; Queens Street and Jubilee Road.
The Governor who defied the afternoon showers, was led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works, Engr Otumchere Oti, as he toured the degenerated roads across the Aba metropolis.
According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kazie Uko, excited residents cheered the Governor and his entourage, which included 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, at every stop as Dr. Otti observed the decadence that dotted long stretches of the roads earmarked for rehabilitation.
“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.
The Governor’s Special Adviser on Works said more roads will be included in due course.
Apart from the ongoing desilting of drain along Azikiwe Road, according to the Special Adviser, the exercise would continue along so many other roads to facilitate the free flow of storm water, and hence, reduce flooding on the roads.
