Otti set to remodel Umuahia, plans six-lane road
… pay teachers, LG workers
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia State Government has hinted of its plan to embark on the expansion of the road leading from the Abia Express Tower on the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway to Micheal Okpara Square in the metropolis of the capital city.
The government is also set to pay primary school teachers and local government workers in the state.
Recall that during the administration of Governor Theodore Orji, the otherwise single lane road, popularly known as Ossah Road, was bifurcated into two lanes with a median adorned with street lights.
But the Otti administration says it would soon commence the expansion of the road into six lanes, as part it’s agenda to redesign the Abia State capital.
Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, announced the road expansion project plan while briefing the newsmen at Government House on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday.
The Commissioner explained that the project would not only give the State capital a facelift but would also ease traffic within the city centre.
“As the construction work commences, government will do the needful with regards to payment of compensation to owners of the buildings that would be affected by the road expansion project.
“There is an extant law with regards to public buildings. Anyone who puts up a structure illegally or in the wrong place will not be compensated,” the Commissioner said.
He listed several key roads, including Port Harcourt road, Old Aba – Owerri road, Ikot Ekpene – Umuahia Road, amongst others, which have been selected for reconstruction, adding that the administration was actively rehabilitating about nine roads in both Aba and Umuahia, to enhance the overall quality of life for residents.
Otti had, in June, during the Thanksgiving Service by the member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, Hon. Obi Aguocha, promised that his administration would commence the remodelling of Umuahia in three months’ time.
The Commissioner for Information also noted that one of the remarkable achievememts of the government was the fulfilling its promise to pay the arrears of salaries owed Abia workers, pointing out that Civil servants have received their April salaries, while retirees have been paid their pensions for June and urged those within the Local Government system to expect their payments this week.
The Commissioner however emphasized that civil servants should reciprocate the state government’s efforts by fulfilling their responsibilities diligently.
Responding to a question about the salary issue, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Nwachukwu Uzor, explained that which made workers in the local government system, including primary school teachers have been resolved, assuring that they would be paid this week.
