Abia state Governor, Dr Alex Otti has announced that the state government has reached an agreement with the Federal Government to jointly rehabilitate the federal roads in the state.
Governor Otti made the announcement, yesterday, at Government House Umuahia, during a Media Parley organized by the state government to provide Journalists an overview of the achievements of the current administration since it’s inception.
The Governor revealed that plans are underway to commence rehabilitation work on the Port Harcourt and Ohanku Roads in Aba.
He emphasized that the state government is in partnership with the Federal Government to reconstruct the Umuahia – Bende – Ohafia Roads, along with other federal roads in the state.
The Governor also said that the state government had already commenced palliative work on federal roads such as the Umuahia -Ikot Ekpene Road and other similar federal roads in the state to alleviate the difficulties experienced by road users.
“We are working closely with the Federal Government to ensure that these roads are maintained and rebuilt so that the bad name that we get from those roads will be a thing of the past”, he said.
The Governor noted that the decision to embark on the Ossah-Mission Hill Road expansion project was informed by the desire to
stimulate economic development within the state.
He added that 130 buildings had been marked for demolition and the payment of compensation to affected individuals by the ongoing exercise was in progress, with a total of N771 million already disbursed.
“The last time I checked the total amount of money for compensation was about N771 million and that has already been paid.
“Some people have not received theirs because of the discrepancies in the account details they provided.
“Some others have not received because of family contention about whose account would be used to receive them the money”, he said.
On the Abia Innovation Industrial Park, Governor Otti said that the government would harness the oil and gas reserves in Owaza in Ukwa West Local Government Area to change the fortunes of the people of Owaza and the state at large.
The Governor assured landowners of monetary compensation and the opportunity for employment for themselves and their dependents within the park, stressing the state government’s unwavering commitment to enhancing local content.
He acknowledged that the host community had been previously neglected by past administrations and expressed empathy for the challenging conditions they have faced despite their role in the state’s oil production.
“If you were present there at the groundbreaking ceremony, you will sympathize with the people that live there, because it is very sad that the place where oil also comes out from in the state is in that condition.
“A community that makes us to be addressed as oil-producing state, it is not fair to leave them in the state they are and that is why they trouped out in their numbers to receive us”, Otti said.
