President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commissioned the age-long deplorable and collapsed 6.7km Port-Harcourt road Aba, reconstructed into Dual Carriage Road of 3 lanes by Governor Alex Otti.
Other roads commissioned by the President includes; Ohanku, Ndoki, Ajiwe Street, Umuatako, Chief Nkoro Street, Gabriel Nwosu Street and Pepples road.
Speaking at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba after commissioning the projects, President Tinubu commended Governor Otti for delivering the projects with touch of quality, assuring that the federal government would continue to support states that show commitment to quality leadership.
President Tinubu represented by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, 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 President while stressing that his administration is focused on road projects nationwide, announced that Governor Otti would immediately receive federal approval to take over the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road, as serious work are ongoing at various federal government road projects in the South East-South region.
Earlier in his speech, the Governor, Dr Alex Otti,
described the event as a historic one that signals a new dawn for Aba after decades of neglect by successive administrations.
Governor Otti disclosed that Aba, the commercial hub of the South East has bounced back to greatness following massive infrastructure renewal projects and renewed Federal Government support.
The Governor who entitled his speech, “Rebuilding Destiny”, thanked the Federal Government for her support, particularly in the rehabilitation of long-abandoned Federal highways, adding that the Tinubu administration’s policies although tough, had begun to yield economic benefits for the states.
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 is a fulfillment of his campaign promise, is expected to double the volume of trade in Aba within the next 12 months.
He called for stronger federal support for a functional rail network with stops in key commercial towns, as well as the optimisation of seaports and development of the South East’s vast natural gas deposits and thanked the federal government for being a dependable partner in the prevailing business-friendly environment across Aba.
In his speech, the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, called for the establishment of a seaport in the South East and appealed that President Tinubu should prevail on the constant and painful demolition of properties and sources of livelihood belonging to ndi-Igbo by the Lagos state government and others.
In their remarks, the senator representing Abia South Senatorial District, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and the National Secretary of Labour Party, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, expressed joy with the developmental strides of the Governor and called for the release of the leader of the Indigenous people of Biafra IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu being held under the custody of DSS.
Also Speaking for the Abia House of Representatives Caucus, Hon. Ginger Onwusibe and the Speaker of Abia House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, thanked Governor Alex Otti for the harvest of projects across the state, noting that the Governor has through various landmark projects earned himself a second term in office.
The events which attracted the presence of the Deputy Governor, Chief Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, SSG, Prof. Kenneth Kalu, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, top functionaries within the State Executive and legislative arms of government, the clergy, the traditional institution and the Aba business community, featured the confirment of Chieftaincy title of “Ụdọ Akpu Enyi of Abia” on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
