Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has officially commissioned the newly reconstructed 1.3km Dozie-Way in Umuahia, with a pledge to continue improving the state’s infrastructure by reconstructing other roads in the Lodu and IBB phases 1 and 2 areas.
During the commissioning ceremony, Governor Otti praised the successful completion of the project, calling it a testament to the skill and dedication of engineers and technical officers at the state’s Ministry of Works. He emphasized that the project highlights his administration’s commitment to transforming Umuahia into a modern state capital that offers comfortable living and business spaces for individuals and families to pursue their aspirations.
The Governor stressed that the Dozie-Way road is crucial as an economic gateway for the communities in Ndume Ibeku and surrounding areas. He noted that the road’s completion will attract new investments in sectors such as real estate, agriculture, and hospitality.
Governor Otti also expressed satisfaction with the state’s direct labour initiative, which played a significant role in the project’s execution. He stated that involving local professionals from various ministries has not only helped to reduce costs but also provided valuable career fulfillment for civil servants.
“Through the committed use of direct labour in project execution, we have minimized dormancy within the technical cadre of the civil service, exposed our professionals to emerging industry trends, and most importantly, allowed them to find career fulfillment within the public sector,” he said.
He further highlighted that the direct labour model is helping to curb corruption and procurement abuses while reinvesting savings into the professional development of staff and acquisition of necessary tools to enhance their efficiency.
“I want to thank the technical teams across the MDAs for being partners in progress with the government and for demonstrating that our people have all it takes to compete with the best anywhere and everywhere,” Governor Otti added.
The Governor revealed that the total cost of the road project was approximately 75 million naira, a significant reduction from the initial contractor’s quote of 2.2 billion naira. The project includes a standard drainage system and a dual carriageway.
Governor Otti assured the public that the commissioning of Dozie-Way is just the beginning of a series of expansive road development projects planned for the area within the next 12 months. He mentioned that preliminary work is already underway on the IBB Way and Ahiaeke-Lodu road.
“The road construction and renovation projects along this corridor will be part of a broader development plan designed to drive the rapid socioeconomic transformation of our state capital. In May this year, we successfully completed the Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard, which has significantly enhanced the major entrance into the city from the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway,” he said.
In his goodwill message, Chief Augustine Okezie, Deputy Speaker of the Abia House of Assembly, praised the reconstruction of Dozie-Way as further evidence of Governor Otti’s dedication to improving Umuahia’s infrastructure. He reassured the people of Abia that more such projects are on the horizon.
Chief Smart Iheoma, Mayor of Umuahia North LGA, thanked Governor Otti for his unwavering commitment to quality in all the projects undertaken by his administration. He also appealed for similar development projects to be extended to the Ohuhu area of the state capital to ensure all communities feel included in the progress.
The traditional ruler of Ndume Autonomous Community, Eze Donatus Aguiyi, represented by Chief Foster Awomukwu, along with the President General of Ndume-Otuka Federated, Chief John Onyeiro, also expressed their gratitude to the Governor for the road project and requested that it be extended to link Olokoro Community, in addition to improving internal roads in IBB phases 1 and 2.
The event attracted a host of dignitaries, including the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, government officials, the CEO of Innoson Motors, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, traditional rulers from Umuahia North, and other notable figures.
