Creating Greater Economic Opportunities Through The Reconstruction Of Ohafia -Arochukwu Federal Road
By Ezechukwu Adimoha
The present administration being piloted by the focused, purposeful and infrastructural- driven Governornof Abia state Dr Alex Otti on Tuesday August 28th 2024 took a bold and courageous step that will continue to revibrate in the echoes of history as he flagged off the reconstruction of the age-long deplorable 41.4 kilometer Ohafia-Arochukwu federal highway.
It is on record that the Ohafia-Arochukwu federal highway which was constructed in the 1960s by the then Leadership of the bdefunct Eastern Region ably led by late Dr Michael Iheonukara Okpara as a major artery linking many Communities and Towns within Abia north led to the economic boom of the area as it facilitated economic activities such as Agriculture, commerce and tourism.
It is on record also,that the road apart from serving many Communities in Abia north equally created windows of economic opportunities for neighbouring states including Cross River and Akwa Ibom who were actively involved in trading activities , providing Agricultural and other services to the Ohafia Arochukwu and other neighbouring Communities within the present Abia north senatorial zone.
Regrettably, after years of economic opportunities as made possible through this all important road, the road, economic and social opportunities it hitherto created suffered terrible fate leading to the saying “odighi uzo esi aga Aro di nfe”.
However, being a federal road, previous and successive administrations including politicians had turned the road into campaign tool leaving residents and millions of road users in total pains.
As the years goes by the road became completely impassable with life threatening gully the left Center and right leaving motorist with the only choice of plying the Itumbauzo-Akwa Ibom road.
Thanks to the administration of Governor Alex Otti for mustering the courage to mobilize contractor for the reconstruction of this all economically important road which will in turn restore economic activities in the area.
On completion, the Ohafia- Arochukwu federal highway will give Nigerians who are resident in this clime or traveling through the Ohafia- Arochukwu road a sense of belonging ending the long years of suffering and agony.
Considering the huge resources that this all important project will gulp from the state’s treasury , it is expected that the federal government will consider making the necessary financial provisions to reimburse the state as soon as possible to enable the state government channel such resources to other areas of need.
According to the Governor during the road flagg off at the old Soldier Junction Ebem Ohafia “this reconstruction project aligns perfectly with our integrated development agenda of creating new pathways of opportunities for individuals and Communities”.
“The target is to effectively restore the state’s Agricultural corridor to serve multiple layers of needs including job creation, poverty alleviation and long term food security”.
Apart from numerous economic opportunities this project will expose Abia north to, the road when completed will strategically open the zone for new window for investors considering the abundant deposit of limestone,kaolin and other mineral resources within the Arochukwu area.
The education sector is not also left out as the Ohafia-Arochukwu road when completed will revive the Abia State College of Education Technical, Arochukwu which has for many years suffered decline in students enrollment and other fortune due to lack of accessibility.
Heartwarmingly, as the reconstruction work progresses, the Abia State College of Education Technical, Arochukwu and businesses around it will begin to experience a new lease of life with its attendant boost in patronage of various businesses along the road.
The State Ministry of works has the task of ensuring adequate supervision of the project to guarantee smooth execution and long term durability on completion.
Looking at Governor Alex Otti’s performance chart being on the rise within his 16 months of purposeful leadership,one will conveniently justify his aggressive determination and quest to be in the saddle.
