—Assures of economic resurgence of city.
Emelam Udo, Umuahia, Umuahia.
Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has flagged off the reconstruction of the 6.8-kilometer Port Harcourt Road in Aba which will attract the economic rejuvenation in the commercial nerve centre of the state.
The age long dilapidated Port Harcourt Road Aba, which was constructed during the administration of the late Sam Mbakwe of old Imo state was once a bustling hub for economic activities but has seriously deteriorated over the past two and half decades due to neglect by successive administrations.
Otti while speaking during the event titled “Building on A Solid Rock Of Excellence” expressed his unwavering commitment to restore the road to its former glory.
The Governor emphasized that the reconstruction was not a mere political gesture for short-term gain but a holistic effort to restore the road’s durability and economic significance.
He disclosed that his administration enlisted the expertise of Julius Berger Plc; a renowned civil engineering company in Nigeria with a reputation for delivering landmark projects to endure that the highest quality was achieved.
According to Otti, the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road Aba Otti would drive economic rejuvenation and bring about economic development for investments to thrive.
” I am glad that we are taking yet another strategic step in fulfilling one of my major campaign promises which is to permanently break the jinx of Port Harcourt -Aba Road and revive the long-abandoned economic activities along this corridor, activities that once gave Aba a set of peculiar advantages, starting from the early 1980s when our revered leader, Dee Sam Mbakwe, Governor of Old Imo State, constructed this road to feed into the expansion of the booming oil industrial complex in Port Harcourt.”,he said
He said that he was partly fulfilled that his administration had reached another milestone in what had been a very long process which started immediately after his victory on the 22nd of March 2023.
The Abia Chief Executive pledged to complete the payment to Julius Berger on schedule to avoid any setbacks arising from delayed payment ,adding that the project has a delivery timeline of 18 months.
“My expectation is that whatever needs to be done to meet the target would be done, including working round the clock. On our own part, we have set up a robust financing structure to see that we complete the payment on schedule to eliminate any setbacks arising from payment delays”,Otti pointed out.
Otti who expressed gratitude to the people of Aba for their patience and commitment to genuine change,urged them to cooperate fully with the construction team while assuring that the short-term sacrifices would lead to long-term benefits for the economic nerve centre of the state.
The Governor further said that his administration’s ambition was to reset the fundamentals of the city by improving economically significant roads, waste management, and various social infrastructure as well as creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive, create jobs and reduce poverty.
He assured the people that his administration was committed to delivering on its promises adding that the forthcoming months would witness a significant transformation in the city’s infrastructure and economic landscape.
Lars Richter, the Group Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Limited, in his speech promised to deliver the project based on specification and described the project as another milestone for the 4 months old administration of Governor Alex Otti.
He commended Governor Otti for his commitment to the infrastructural revolution of the state and thanked him for choosing Julius Berger to be part of his rebuilding agenda in the state.
In an interview,some business owners and road users including Peter Azubuike and Mathias Ogbonna noted that the road was strategic to the economic rejuvenation of Aba as it was the home of major fabrication outlets and heavy equipment, while describing Otti as truly on a mission to rebuild Abia.
The event which saw a mammoth crowd of supporters and admirers was attended by the Deputy Governor, Ikechukwu Emetu,wife of the Governor, Priscilla Otti, national and state legislators, and captains of industries among others.
