When the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti sworn in the Mayors of the 17, local government areas in Abia State on the 6th of November 2023, the Mayor of Bende LGA, Barr. Chijioke Nwankwo promised to replicate Gov. Otti’s development agenda and to deliver dividends of democracy to the good people of Bende Local Government Area.
In his inaugural speech while addressing the staff of the council, Mayor Nwankwo, appealed to them to contribute their quota in the development of the council, expressing that the task before them are enormous.
According to him, ” the era of playing truancy, lateness to work and negligence to duties are over, we are in a hurry to make a difference, therefore all hands must be on deck to help Gov. Otti in his transformation agenda for a new Abia”.
Mayor Nwankwo, did not waste time to commence to work by first engaging the communities in his council to a Townhall meetings to ascertain the most pressing needs of the council and how to go about solving them one after the other.
“What we learnt from the Townhall meetings were unprecedented, first we became equipped with the level of deplorable nature of our rural roads, in some cases communities were totally alienated due to lack of access road to evacuate their farm produce to the market because Bende people are predominantly farmers” he said.
Having gotten knowledge of this and with assistance from the governor we came up with interventions in rural roads grading and access to communities tagged operation make our rural roads motor able.
The first point of call was the grading of Onuinyang-Ukpom Okporoenyi rural road.
This road links four communities, three in Bende LGA and one in Ikwuano LGA who were predominantly farmers in cocoa, timber, rice, maize, okra, cassava, yam, vegetables and all kinds of fruits including palm oil.
Today, the people of Onuinyang-Ukpom Okporoenyi are reintegrated and they are rejoicing because at least their farm produce will no longer perish in their houses because they now have access road to evacuate them to the market.
After grading the Onuinyang-Ukpom Okporoenyi road, the mayor moved to Eluama-Uzoawunta Uzuakoli road, this road has been impassible for ages he said, but today it has been graded and the people no longer find it difficult to access the road and go about their businesses.
The case of Ugwunkpa community road is so pathetic that we have to intervene swiftly considering the topographic nature of the area and today the communities within the area are accessing the road without a hitch.
The Ugwueke Ezeukwu community rural road grading is also a testament of the massive support we are enjoying from the state government.
The grading of Amaokwe – Akanu Okai item has not only engendered unity, interconnectivity among the communities but also proved that Barrister Chijioke Nwankwo’s appointment as the mayor of Bende LGA is a round peg in a round hole.
Mayor Nwankwo’s latest rural road intervention was the grading of Amaeke-Abam Umuhu Ezechi road, a 6.3 kilometres road that is critical for the transportation of agro products to neighbouring Ohafia and Arochukwu local government areas.
According to the mayor, “beyond facilitating movement, the road projects will improve interconnectivity among rural areas, encouraged residents economic activities, quick access to essential services and over all quality of life in rural areas”
These 7, rural roads so far graded he said, has been impassible for several years, are now accessible to the communities and in line with the Governors efforts to transform Abia state.
Beyond rural roads grading, the mayor has open up Bende LGA for investors to come in and invest in the area.
Already, the Bulgarian Government has shown interest by sending delegates who came and collected soil samples for testing purposes and possible investment in agribusinesses.
They promised to train farmers in cutting edge technology and mechanized ways of farming.
Also the CSS Integrated Farms has shown interest in collaborating with the council.
The visit is aimed to explore potential collaboration opportunities in Bende, focusing on mechanized farming practices, youth training on skills to excel in mechanized farming and sites suitable for establishing agricultural production facilities within Bende.
In the area of education, the mayor has tapped into Gov Otti’s sports development by introducing same in schools within the council.
The little we have achieved so far is just dress rehearsal compare to what the set man of the state want and we know with available resources a new and holistic Abia is possible.
The first point of call was the grading of Onuinyang-Ukpom Okporoenyi rural road.
After grading the Onuinyang-Ukpom Okporoenyi road, the mayor moved to Eluama-Uzoawunta Uzuakoli road, this road has been impassible for ages he said, but today it has been graded and the people no longer find it difficult to access the road and go about their businesses.
The case of Ugwunkpa community road is so pathetic that we have to intervene swiftly considering the topographic nature of the area and today the communities within the area are accessing the road without a hitch.
The Ugwueke Ezeukwu community rural road grading is also a testament of the massive support we are enjoying from the state government.
Mayor Nwankwo’s latest rural road intervention was the grading of Amaeke-Abam Umuhu Ezechi road, a 6.3 kilometres road that is critical for the transportation of agro products to neighbouring Ohafia and Arochukwu local government areas.
