Otti underscores road infrastructure importance
– Gordi Udeajah –
Abia state governor Dr Alex Otti has described roads as pictures that tell the stories of societies and where they are on the development ladder pointing out that it is not accidental that most roads in the developed societies look more inviting than those in the developing areas.
He said this in an address he marked ” A Gate Way To The New Abia ” which he read out while flagging off the reconstruction and dualization of the 5.5 kilometre Owerrinta-Umuikaa road held at Umuaikaa in Isiala Ngwa South Council.
Before this, he had at Obingwa, flagged off the reconstruction of the long abandoned 12.6 kilometre Ohanze-Ntighauzor -Akirika Obu Road.
He further said that roads are ultimately more than just infrastructure and the foundation of prosperity and enablers of holistic development in most parts of the world, stating that they ( roads ) ” are also compasses that point people to the economic trajectory of a community and direct the attention of those in authority to what needs to be done if certain outcomes are to be pursued or avoided”.
According to him, road infrastructure development is therefore, not just a priority to his government but a major yardstick for measuring it’s progress in the stride to reposition Abia as a prime destination for investments.
He said ” in the last few months, we have initiated over a dozen new road projects covering more than 200 kilometres across the State, disclosing that what sets his administration apart is that “before we move to any road for a flag off ceremony like this, plans must have been made for funds to effectively execute and deliver the project on schedule”.
He recalled that Abia under his leadership now ranks as one of the few states in the country with zero indebtedness to contractors based according him, on the report of National Bureau of Statistics ( NBS ).
He attributed this to his administration’s prudence in the management of public resources and ” more fundamentally, an end to the days of abandoned projects because not only do we make funds available, but we also have systems in place to ensure that we give our roads to competent and tested contractors that have track records of delivery.
He said ” Our assertion this afternoon is that we do not just initiate projects; we deliver 100% because we plan long in advance, and follow through on our plans”.
On why many roads around Aba are being reconstructed, he said ” we are looking to expand the Aba urban corridor by developing the outskirts of the main town to decongest the city centre and create new territories for businesses and families.
” Part of the agenda of the present Administration is to initiate robust infrastructure development strides that will ultimately establish a large urban sprawl between Aba and Umuahia — turning the two cities into one large metropolitan area”
He said that on completion, the dualised Owerrinta-Umuikaa Road will create an inviting experience for road users coming into Abia from neighbouring states of Imo and Anambra adding that his Administration came prepared to change the ugly experiences many road users coming into Abia from other states usually have as soon as their vehicles hit our roads.
” All that is in the past now; never again will bad roads be used to describe the entry points into Abia. Beyond aesthetics, this project is also a life-saving initiative that will cut down the risk of road accidents along this corridor.
” It will enable smooth flow of traffic and ultimately reduce delays, especially for those travelling to catch their flight at the Sam Mbakwe Airport Owerri or attend to other matters that may be of life and death importance”.
