On Tuesday, 4th February 2025, another historic event will take place when His Excellency, Governor Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, flags off the construction of the bridge across the Igwu River at Ozu Abam in Arochukwu Local Government Council, which is popularly called the Omenuko bridge.
Expectedly, the immediate beneficiaries of this very important project – the people of Abam, Ohafia, Arochukwu, Ihechiowa, Ututu, and Isu, will troop out in large numbers to witness the event.
The Omenuko bridge is one of the most important facilities in Abia North, as it connects the food-producing communities of Abam, Arochukwu, Ihechiowa, Ututu, Ohafia, Isu and parts of Akwa Ibom and Northern Cross-River state with Bende and the rest of Abia state. Despite its strategic importance, the bridge, which was constructed during the pre-colonial era and opened for traffic in 1955, has never witnessed any form of improvement since the Nigerian Civil War.
The regular vehicular accidents recorded on this narrow, antiquated bridge are unfortunate, as many human fatalities have been a consequence of this long-standing neglect. To make matters worse, the bridge, during the past 20 years of PDP administration in Abia state, became a subject of intense politicking and bickering amongst PDP elected officials at both the Federal and State levels, with claims and counterclaims of attracting a non-existent rehabilitation project on the bridge, which ultimately amounted to nothing, leaving the bridge users with the short end of the stick.
It is against this background of abject neglect and mockery that the relief and joy of a large number of road users over the refreshing action of the talk-and-do governor in constructing a brand-new Omenuko Bridge over the Igwu River can be understood. The flag-off of the project, which is scheduled to hold on Tuesday, 4th February 2025, at Ozu Abam, is undoubtedly one of several such projects intentionally undertaken by the Governor Otti administration to fast-track socio-economic development of Abia state, in line with his vision of building a new Abia.
The new bridge will no doubt be a big relief to the numerous commuters who daily ply the Umuahia-Bende-Ozu-Abam-Ohafia Federal Highway and the Ozu-Abam-Ndi Okereke-Arochukwu route. It is also worth noting that the flag-off of the Omenuko bridge is an important follow-up and addition to the ongoing construction of the Ozu-Abam-Ndi Okereke-Arochukwu road by the state government.
We salute the courage of His Excellency, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, in mustering the political will to undertake the building of a brand-new Omenuko bridge across the Igwu River despite the fact that it is a federal project. This feat once again demonstrates his unwavering commitment to the welfare of his people.
This project, no doubt, is an additional feather to his already star-studded cap.
Written by Hon. Jones Nnnana Ike General Manager Abia Newspapers and Publishing Corporation
