Governor Otti acknowledging cheers during the flag off of Arochukwu-Ohafia road
Reconstruction of Arochukwu-Ohafia road would create ecosystem of interconnected economic opportunities -Otti
Reconstruction of the dilapidated 41.4-kilometre Arochukwu-Ohafia road would an ecosystem of inter-connected economic opportunities, Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has said.
Governor Otti made the remark last Wednesday as he flagged off the reconstruction of the road which has defied several efforts made in the past to fix the it.
Reconstructing the federal road has proved a hard nut to crack for many federal administrations, right from the late General Sani Abacha era to the present political dispensation from1999 to date, as their attempts to rebuild it ended in abandonment of the job.
However, the current effort by Governor Otti has rekindled hope of Abians, particularly, the people of Arochukwu, and other constant users of the road that the jinx may be broken this time around.
“For several decades, coming into Arochukwu from anywhere was an uphill task which prompted the old cliché ‘o nweghi uzo e si a ga Aro di nso,’ literally translated as ‘there is no easy route to Arochukwu,” Dr. Otti noted.
“Today, we have come to begin a holistic process that will put an end to this age-old nightmare and give fellow Abians living in the over 60 communities and clans around this corridor, a new lease of life,” the Governor said while addressing the people at the Old Soldier Junction at Ohafia during the flag-off ceremony.
He said that the bid to reconstruct the road was in keeping with his campaign promise of easing the burden faced by the people, adding that fixing the road would equally create economic advancement opportunities within communities along the road’s corridor, as well as build new systems of advantages for the next generation.
According to the Governor, the project aligns perfectly with the integrated development agenda of creating new pathways of opportunities for individuals and communities in the state.
Going down memory lane, the Governor recalled the construction of the road in the 1960s by the then government of Late Dr Michael Okpara.
“Built in the 1960s by the Dr. Michael Okpara administration as a major artery connecting several communities and towns within this part of the Eastern region, this road quickly became a major economic enabler leading to a boom in agriculture, commerce, and tourism as individuals and families came in their numbers to either trade, or visit the many important National Heritage Sites in Arochukwu, including the ‘Osu gwodo gwodo’ Waterfall, the Ibini Ukpabi Shrine and other places of interest for research and leisure purposes,” he recalled.
The Governor lamented that since the road deteriorated after it’s construction, it became a political tool in the hands of successive administrations.
He also noted that the road, in the past, had created windows of economic opportunities for neighbouring states of Akwa Ibom and Cross River and expressed the hope that when completed, the road would bring back such opportunities and even now, have significant economic impacts on federal and state revenues.
“This road served not just communities in the present-day Abia State, it created windows of economic opportunities for our brothers and sisters in today’s Cross River and Akwa Ibom States who were regulars in our local markets, trading with our people, providing important agricultural and ancillary services, and learning in our institutions.
“On account of the fact that the road provided smooth passage to communities outside our boundaries, our kith and kin were also able to pursue their dreams to wherever the environment was promising.
“There were practically no limits to our ambition and drive for success, thanks to the vision of the Sir Michael Okpara-led Eastern Region Government. It is for this purpose that we are taking this road to our border with Akwa Ibom State. Luckily, Akwa Ibom had several years ago, constructed their own portion of the road,” Governor Otti explained.
He noted that reconstructing the road was an initiative beyond economic activities as it would help to revieve the Abia State College of Education (Technical) in Arochukwu.
“This project is more than just a road reconstruction initiative. It is about creating an entire ecosystem of interconnected opportunities that cuts across agriculture, commerce, tourism, education and industrial manufacturing.
“Today’s programme and what happens in the next 18 months, when this project is expected to be delivered, will be fundamentally strategic to our long-term development agenda,” he said.
The Governor, therefore, said: “What we have come to do today is to take our destiny in our hands, convinced that the Federal Government, whose approval we have fully obtained to execute this project, will eventually do what is right and fair in the long-term economic interest of the good people of Abia State.
“We have sincerely taken this bold initiative in order to save the Federal Government the embarrassment this road has brought it before international visitors and tourists.
“Our intent is to give Nigerians who are resident in this part of the country or travelling through this road for business and social engagements, a sense of belonging because no nation should watch its citizens pass through the nightmare our people have endured for years.”
The Governor therefore appealed to the federal government to do a rethink on tolling the road after it’s completion but should rather reimburse the state.
“The suggestion by the FGN to toll the road at the end of the reconstruction may actually not be the best way of rewarding the faithful taxpayers in these communities after what they had been through.
“I will again plead with the federal government to consider making the necessary financial provisions to eventually reimburse the State since we have taken the bull by the horn by doing what a responsible government should do for the citizens.
“This appeal is very important considering that this very project will unleash new layers of opportunities that will have significant economic impacts, especially for federal revenue,” Governor Otti added.
In their goodwill messages, the Deputy Governor, Chief Ikechukwu Emetu, and the member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia federal Constituency, Chief Ibe Okwara Osonwa, while thanking Governor Otti for taking the bold step in reconstructing the road, said that the gesture marks a positive move for the economic rejuvenation of the Abia North Senatorial Zone.
The commissioner for works, Engr. Otumchere Oti, said that the reconstruction of the road would mark a major turning point in the socio-political development of Ohafia and Arochukwu as it would automatically revitalize businesses within the areas.
In his remarks, the mayor of Ohafia local government area, Chief David Ogba-Onuoha, while describing the project as the beginning of a progressive chapter, said that the Governor was consistently paving the way for greater prosperity and even development.
Also speaking, a former Minister of Finance, Dr Kalu Idika Kalu, and the Eze Aro, Eze Eberechukwu Oji, said Governor Otti would, through the gesture, bring an end to the many years of reproach on people living along Arochukwu-Ohafia axis, assuring that stakeholders in the areas would give the contractor the needed support to deliver the job according to specifications.
The flag off ceremony attracted major stakeholders from within and outside Abia state.
