Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has applauded the Chairman of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Linus Nto Mbah, for his commitment to preserving the Igbo culture and tradition.
Governor Otti gave the commendation on Saturday at the palace of Eze Mbah during the 2025 New Yam Festival of the Ata Igbo Ukwu Umuzomgbo Autonomous Community.
“I want to thank His Royal Majesty, Eze Linus Nto Mbah, for inviting us and for opening up his palace to receive us and for preserving our culture and tradition”, he said.
The Governor announced that the construction of the 9-kilometre Ihechiowa Ring Road had reached the procurement stage, adding that it would be flagged off soon
He further disclosed that the ongoing Abiriba–Ohafia–Arochukwu Road would be commissioned in the first quarter of next year.
Governor Otti who expressed delight at the appreciation shown by the people for his infrastructural interventions, listed the Omenuko Bridge, Amovi–Ndiokereke–Abam Road, and the Umuahia–Uzuakoli–Abiriba–Ohafia–Arochukwu Road among projects executed by his administration.
He emphasised that roads constructed through direct labour by the Ministry of Works save the government about 75 per cent of costs, compared to contracts awarded to external contractors.
“The 9km Ihechiowa Ring Road is now at the stage of procurement and I’m very sure that in the next few weeks it will be flagged off for construction.
“The other roads you see around, I’m sure you’ll be surprised because of the quality of the roads. You may be surprised that it is by direct labour by the Ministry of Works. Any road they do, we will be saving about 75% of the cost from awarding them to contractors.
We have, as of yesterday, done 27 months and I can assure you that work will continue to be done with speed until the end of this administration,” the Governor said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the occasion and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration) of Gregory University, Uturu, Prof. Uwaoma Uche, thanked the Governor for recognising and supporting the traditional institution in Abia.
He commended Eze Mbah for his consistency in promoting Igbo culture and agriculture, while also urging the government to fast-track the Ihechiowa Ring Road project.
Earlier in his welcome address, Eze Mbah lauded Governor Otti for his favourable disposition towards the Ihechiowa people, particularly his commitment to fixing roads that had been neglected for decades and often used as campaign promises by politicians.
He described the festival as an occasion of thanksgiving for a bountiful harvest and praised the Governor for the ongoing road projects linking Arochukwu, which have shortened travel time.
The monarch assured that traditional rulers across the state were firmly behind the Governor and his re-election in 2027.
On behalf of the community, the President-General of the Ihechiowa Development Union, Mr Ogbonnaya Okoroafor, expressed gratitude to the Governor for appointing Ihechiowa indigenes to positions of trust, including the Chairman of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers and pledged the community’s total support for the Otti led administration.
The colourful event which featured cultural displays, performances by various community groups, and the disbursement of gift items, had in attendance dignitaries including, former Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu; Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu; Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu; Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Mr Mathew Ekwuribe; Chairman of Enugu State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Samuel Asadu; and a host of other royal fathers and government functionaries.
