…Assures Ukwa West Communities of Electricity, Development Projects
Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has assured residents of Ukwa West LGA that his administration will make provision for the construction of the Obuokwe–Umuekechi–Uratta Road in the state’s 2027 budget.
Governor Otti gave the assurance on Friday, when the Ukwa West Traditional Rulers Council, led by its Chairman, Eze Anthony Dike, paid a courtesy visit to his office in Nvosi, Isialangwa South LGA.
The governor directed the commissioners in attendance to ensure that the road project was captured in the 2027 budget estimates, stressing that government projects could only be executed when adequate provision was made for them in the budget.
He thanked the traditional rulers for the visit and commended them for their efforts in maintaining peace in Ukwa West, particularly their intervention in resolving the challenges surrounding the Inner Galaxy company.
“I want to thank you for the way you have handled the issue of the Inner Galaxy. Your cooperation and leadership have helped to restore peace there”, the governor said.
He also appreciated the traditional rulers for their commendation of his administration’s efforts to restore electricity to parts of Ukwa West, assuring them that the various requests presented by the delegation would receive appropriate attention.
The governor said his administration would examine concerns raised over the continued lack of electricity in Owaza and Umuorie communities, which became apparent after power was restored to other parts of the area last year.
He also promised to look into requests for the resumption of development projects and the provision of utility vehicles to support the activities of traditional rulers in the area.
Otti reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring that development was evenly spread across the state, including communities in the oil-producing areas of Ukwa West.
Earlier, the Ukwa West Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Anthony Dike commended the governor for his administration’s significant achievements in infrastructure development and its transformation agenda across Asa land and Abia State.
The traditional ruler told the governor that peace had been restored in the Inner Galaxy area following the administration’s directive and commending traditional rulers and other stakeholders whose efforts contributed to the resolution of the crisis.
He also praised the administration’s revocation of the Enyimba Economic City project, the ongoing housing development in Obehie and the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt–Aba Road, describing the projects as important to the economic development and wellbeing of the people.
The delegation expressed appreciation for the restoration of electricity to some communities in Ukwa West but appealed to the government to extend the intervention to areas that were not included in the initial phase.
Eze Dike further appealed to the governor to prevail on the Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC) to return to Ukwa West and resume development projects that had reportedly been suspended in the area.
The traditional ruler also thanked the governor for the Civic Centre project in Ukwa and appealed for the rehabilitation of the Obuokwe–Umuekechi Road, alongside the provision of utility vehicles to facilitate their official activities.
The meeting was attended by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Philemon Ogbonna; the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu; the Mayor of Ukwa West LGA, Pastor Dike Nwankwo, among others.
