Today, the 3rd of October 2025, Abia people and residents will row their drums in celebration of the landmark commissioning of the long abandoned 6.7 kilometres 6-lane Port Harcourt road Aba, a federal road reconstructed by the trailblazing , jinx breaking Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti OFR.
The commissioning ceremony will be performed by no less a person, than the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR , the JAGABAN himself.
It could be recalled that the Port Harcourt road Aba was built very solidly by the highly celebrated former iconic Governor of the old Imo state, Chief Sam Mbakwe. The stretch of road became one of the busiest parts of Aba as well as a major hub for the servicing of heavy-duty vehicles, equipment, spare parts, power generating sets and ancillary tools.
But for lack of maintenance culture by successive governments, the once bubbling Port Harcourt road, Aba became dilapidated, decrepit and completely abandoned. In fact, the road got deteriorated to the extent that the heaps of wastes and debris that flooded the road were like storey buildings while the remaining parts of it were either covered by grasses, plantain and banana trees or portholes and ditches.
This Port Harcourt road got to a point where businesses, including corporate headquarters around the area were forced to relocate to favourable locations while public schools such as Umuagbai Secondary School, National High School and Ohabiam Girls Secondary School among others were completely shut down with their facilities left in ruins.
Of course, many property owners around that corridor sold their property on what could be described as “give away” prices as property value become very low in Port Harcourt road and it’s environs. There were no serious businesses taking place there while some churches relocated and few others that were managing to stay, were lacking members for inaccessibility to their premises.
However, the election of Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR ignited hope and brought a lifeline to Port Harcourt road and the remnants. Upon his election as Governor, even prior to his eventful swearing in as the state Governor, Dr. Alex Otti on 27th of April precisely , led representatives of Julius Berger on an inspection tour of the road and later on, the road was flagged off for reconstruction and today, the rest is history.
Of course, in consonants with his inauguration speech, where Governor Alex Otti said, thus, “As you all know, Aba is a city that is very dear to my heart and critical to my leadership agenda. I believe that many Abians have the same attitude towards Aba. I intend to work tirelessly to restore the glory of our beloved Enyimba City,” the Governor went in fully to restore Port Harcourt road.
Also, while flagging off the reconstruction of the road, Governor Otti stated emphatically, that,
“For us, Port Harcourt Road Aba is not just any other project, it will be a testament of our willingness and determination to “rebuild ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated” as contained in Isaiah 61: 4. We are here to rebuild, and this flag off exercise is a definite confirmation that Aba’s days of glory are about to be restored”
Truly, this milestone achievement is one of the strategic steps of the Governor in fulfilling one of his major campaign promises, which is to permanently break the jinx of Port Harcourt Road Aba and revive the long-abandoned economic activities along that corridor.
In order not to repeat the mistake of the past, and wasting billions of Naira of taxpayers’ money without tangible results in road construction, Governor Otti engaged a front line reputable civil engineering company in Nigeria, the Julius Berger Plc to deliver the job. The reconstructed Port Harcourt road would certainly drive the economic rejuvenation of the Enyimba city.
Governor Alex Otti deserves commendation for mustering the courage and political will to make the right commitments to restore the stretch of road for economic rejuvenation of Aba.
The commissioning of Port Harcourt road indeed speaks to the commitment of the Otti led administration to creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive through unprecedented investments in road infrastructure. Reconstruction of the Port Harcourt is aimed at driving job creation and poverty elimination as well as enhancing well – being of the people which are very critical to the development agenda of Governor Alex Otti.
Congratulations to the Aba business community, congratulations to the Enyimba city and congratulations to the man of the moment, Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR!!!
To God be the glory!
Written by Divine Nwankwo HoD (Information), Government House, Umuahia.
