As part of his “Kinetic Abia” Project Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on Monday, officially commissioned the 2.3 kilometre Osusu road in Aba North LGA constructed by his administration amidst an outpouring of encomiums by the residents.
Some of the residents who spoke in an interview with National Ambassador including Mr Nnadozie Cajetan, Mrs Promise Nwagba, Joy Anayo, and Mr Uche Nwoke said they were delighted at completion of the road because of the strategic role it would play in boosting socio- economic activities in Aba.
They described the completion of the road as a welcome development which had brought a huge relief to the residents of the area adding that the deplorable state of Osusu road had in the past crippled business activities in the area and caused residents to experience untold hardship.
Also, some motorists including Mr JohnPaul Okereke and Mr George Kalu commended Governor Ikpeazu for deploying adequate resources for the reconstruction of the road as well as the use of rigid cement technology to ensure its durability.
They expressed happiness over the return of social and commercial activities to the area after most businesses had gone moribund as a result of the bad state of the road.
In her contribution, a trader Mrs Ngozi Ubani said that the road was abandoned and got so bad to a point that people were cultivating crops on some portions while other parts of the road was waterlogged and with over-grown grasses and lauded the state government for giving residents a sense of belonging by repairing the road.
Speaking at the ceremony Governor Okezie Ikpeazu expressed delight at the completion of the road, noting that the Osusu road is of great socio economic significant value to Aba, and the general economy of the state as it is a gateway to the famous Ariaria International Market.
The Governor recalled that prior to the reconstruction of the road, economic activities in the area as well as human and vehicular movements were crippled, adding that the gesture has restored the means of livelihood of the people.
While noting that the era of Dubai roads is gone in the state, Ikpeazu said the Rigid Pavement Technology adopted in the construction of roads in Abia is to ensure durability and prolong the lifespan of the roads adding that the technology is the state government’s standard in road construction.
He also assured that the Okigwe,Ojike, Cemetery and Milverton roads among other ongoing road Projects in Aba will be completed and commissioned soon.
The Governor who directed the Commissioner for Works and other supervisors involved, to immediately fast track the ongoing work on Ngwa road within the next four weeks or risk being relieved of their duties, also urged residents of Osusu road to set up a task force to protect the road against vandalism.
Expressing worry on the slow Pace of work at Ngwa road due to the construction of tunnel on the road, the governor revealed that work is ongoing at Ohanku and Obohia roads.
Commissioning the road, Catholic Papal Nuncio and Head, Diplomatic Missions to Trinidad, Tobago and the Carribeans,Most Reverend Fotunatus Nwachukwu noted that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has through his various developmental projects written his name in gold adding that the arrays of projects executed by the Governor speaks volume of the welfarist nature of the present administration,a disposition he said has put the Governor’s detractors to shame.
In his speech, the Commissioner for Works Dr Bob Ogu urged the residents to stand against any act that could reduce the lifespan of the road.
The Project Contractor,Mr Uzoma Onuoha Earlier, Mr Uzoma Onuoha, the Project Contractor, described the state of Osusu road, before the reconstruction work commenced on the road, as an “eyesore” which was practically a dump site adding that the road was not passable and was only accessed through Okigwe road.
“The were six illegal refuse dump sites on the road and we started carting away those refuse. It took a lot of work and resources to clear the rubbish.
“Also, we excavated up to two metres depth, before we got to the red mud and started sand filling in order to get the concrete pavement done,” Onuoha said.
Governor Ikpeazu thereafter flagged off the reconstruction of Omuma road Aba and inspected the progress of work in some ongoing road projects including Ngwa and Milverton roads.
