Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has declared that Aba, the commercial hub of Abia, is bouncing back to greatness, with the ongoing infrastructural development in the city.
Mr Otti made the declaration while accompanying President Bola Tinubu to inaugurate the age-long collapsed 6.7 km Port Harcourt Road, Aba, reconstructed into a three-lane carriageway by Mr Otti’s administration.
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The governor’s remark is contained in a statement issued on Saturday, 4 October, by his special adviser on media and publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma.
Mr Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, inaugurated seven other roads in Aba – Ohanku Road, Ndoki Road, Ajiwe Street, Umuatako Road, Chief Nkoro Street, Gabriel Nwosu Street and Pepples Road.
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‘Touch of quality’
Speaking at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba, after inaugurating the roads, the president commended Governor Otti for delivering the projects with a “touch of quality” and assured that the federal government would continue to support states that show a commitment to quality leadership.
Mr Tinubu recalled the deplorable and impassable nature of Port Harcourt Road before the intervention of Governor Otti, describing the reconstruction of the road as “a testament of true democracy dividends”.
The works minister, Mr Umahi, stressed that Mr Tinubu’s administration is focused on road projects nationwide, and announced that Governor Otti has received the federal government’s permission to take over the construction of major parts of the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road which is about 35 Kilometres, as serious work are ongoing at various federal government road projects in the South-east and South-south regions.
‘Aba has bounced back’
Mr Otti, earlier in his speech, described the event as historic, signalling a new dawn for Aba after decades of neglect by successive administrations.
The governor expressed delight that “Aba has bounced back to greatness following massive infrastructure renewal projects and renewed federal government support”.
He thanked the federal government for its support, particularly in rehabilitating long-abandoned federal highways. He added that the Tinubu administration’s policies, although tough, had begun to yield economic benefits for the states of the federation and the country.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure, job creation, and economic expansion, adding that the newly completed 6.7-kilometre Port Harcourt Road, which fulfils his campaign promise, is expected to double the volume of trade in Aba within the next 12 months.
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Mr Otti called for stronger federal support for a functional rail network with stops in key commercial towns, and the optimisation of seaports and development of the South-east’s vast natural gas deposits. He thanked the federal government for being a “dependable partner in the prevailing business-friendly environment across the country”.
In his speech, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, called for the establishment of a seaport in the South-east and appealed that President Tinubu prevail on the constant and painful demolition of property and sources of livelihood belonging to Ndi-Igbo by the Lagos State Government and others.
In their remarks, the senator representing Abia South in the Senate, Enyinnaya Abaribe, and the National Secretary of the Labour Party, Darlington Nwokocha, expressed joy with Governor Otti’s achievements in Abia. They called for the release of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.
Speaking for the Abia House of Representatives Caucus, Ginger Onwusibe, and the Speaker of the Abia House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa, thanked Governor Otti for the harvest of Projects across the state, noting that the Governor has earned himself a second term in office through various landmark projects.
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