Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, on Thursday flagged off the reconstruction of the long-abandoned Port Harcourt Road signaling a ray of relief for users of the road that is a major artery that holds immense promise in the economic and social revival of Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia, ABN TV reports.

The currently disused road, which was constructed during the administration of the late Sam Mbakwe (between 1979 - 1983) of old Imo State, was once a bustling hub for economic activities but left to deteriorate over the past two decades by successive Administrations, chief press secretary to the Governor, Kazie Uko said in a statement.

Speaking during the event in a speech titled, "Building On A Solid Rock Of Excellence", Governor Otti expressed his unwavering commitment to restoring the road to its former glory and making it even more economically viable.

"I’m glad that we are taking yet another strategic step in fulfilling one of my major campaign promises which is to permanently break the jinx of Port Harcourt Road, Aba, and revive the long-abandoned economic activities along this corridor; activities that once gave Aba a set of peculiar advantages, starting from the early 1980s when our revered leader, Dee Sam Mbakwe, Governor of Old Imo State, constructed this road to feed into the expansion of the booming oil industrial complex in Port Harcourt.

"Dee Sam’s vision gained a foothold almost immediately as this stretch of road became a major hub for the servicing of heavy-duty vehicles, equipment, spare parts, power generating sets and ancillary tools. In no time, this axis emerged as one of the busiest parts of Aba and a go-to destination for maintenance engineers, procurement officers and contractors working for the multinationals in Port Harcourt and environs, bringing immediate prosperity and a host of other economic and social advantages to the city of Aba.

"For about two decades, it was all bliss and blush for businesses around this area until things began to fall apart in the mid to late 1990s, followed quickly by the unfortunate collapse and abandonment of the 2000s.

"Nothing seemed to work thereafter. In time, the businesses, including those that had their corporate headquarters around here began to disappear, finding more favourable locations as it became clear that succeeding administrations did not have the will to make the right commitments to restore this stretch of road and sustain its economic advantages; until today," the statement quoted the governor Otti as recalling while he addressed the mammoth crowd that trooped out to witness the landmark flag-off.

The new Port Harcourt Road, according to the Commissioner for Works, Engr Otumchere Oti, is a total of 6.8 kilometres, made up of 5.7kms from the beginning of Port Harcourt Road by Ngwa Road to the end at the intersection with the Enugu-Umuahia-Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway by Alaoji and another 1.1kms from the intersection with Ngwa Road to the junction of Azikiwe Road by Asa Road.

The 5.7kms stretch of the road, originally a four-lane carriage, is now being reconstructed and expanded to six lanes with lay-bys and drainage system. The 1.1kms corridor, which yields into Port Harcourt Road, will be reconstructed as a four-lane carriage with lay-bys and drainage. The entire 6.8km road will be properly marked and fitted with solar-powered street lights.

Governor Otti, who mounted one of the bulldozers and started the engine, symbolically flagging off the project, said that the reconstruction was not a mere political gesture for short-term gain but a holistic effort to restore the road's durability and economic significance.

Source: https://abntv.com.ng/news/relief-as-gov-otti-flags-off-port-harcourt-aba-road-reconstruction-says-its-a-jinx-broken-photos-video/

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Otti is the man a swear. PDP wasted 24years that Abia State would have used and become Dubai...if no be PDP rigging wetin concern Ikpeazụ with governance...a crude, shameless tout.

Welcome to the New Abia State...Aba is now the cleanest city in Nigeria go there and see for yourself.

Otti abeg do fast fast make you come become governor of Oyo State. We need you badly, brown roofs 🟤🤎 want choke us to death, come help us develop Oyo State 😎

Can't wait to see the finished product!

A New And Better Nigeria Is Possible. Let's keep hope alive. The evil will not always prevail over good. When the right men come, the true process begins.

He was sworn in same day with mandate thief but the failure had not convened a single FEC meeting not to talk of doing any project

Better person .


Just like Ben Ayade, the new governor of my state has not lay a single stone

Damn!


I am jealous !

Ogun state indigenes! Can you see what they call a Governor!

Portable would have performed better than Dapo Abiodun!

The only LP Man with a true vision. Others cashed in on the LUPEE mantra.


I know they are waiting to know if the will decamp after the supreme court verdict.

Cabads

Metrix147:


Source: https://abntv.com.ng/news/relief-as-gov-otti-flags-off-port-harcourt-aba-road-reconstruction-says-its-a-jinx-broken-photos-video/

I didn't go through.

All I can say is Big Up man!!!

That road is something else, imagine traveling to Enugu from PH, one needs to enter Etchie, run all through and again still come just after Aba.

PDP rest in peace in Abia State.

It happened in Anambra State too.

Abia state just get government for the first time

Imagine still voting PDP and APC and an average Nigerian wants change.. we can clearly see that a Majority of Nigerians are the reason why Nigeria have been backward.

Ethinicity and religion will finish you before you all in that country before you realize Nigeria cannot grow or work out until people become one.

LOVEALAIGBO:
Can't wait to see the finished product!

Its Julius Berger!

You guaranteed of the best!

rinzaugustine:
He was sworn in same day with mandate thief but the failure had not convened a single FEC meeting not to talk of doing any project

Yet, he was bowing for that mandate thief on Lagos.

Aba also needs industrial-sized incineration chambers. The garbage hills of Abia state are eyesores.

Welcome news


No noise on this thread??


Ohh Nl fighters are off duty

cenaman:
Better person .


Just like Ben Ayade, the new governor of my state has not lay a single stone

You better thank God for Ben Ayade!

Ogun state people are ready to exchange Dapo for Ben

See Wetin many states for the enjoy now, if no be Inec wuruwuru

If to say INEC chairman no do us bad thing, every state for dey enjoy like Abia state. E no go better for INEC chairman.

Chai...port harcourt road aba... finally.

this road has been problem for long...the orjis and kerosene man failed in aba and turn aba backward and i pray otti restored aba back to it glory

Very good

Raskimonojendor:

Yet, he was bowing for that mandate thief on Lagos.

prostrate, bow, kneel etc and all other of those public gestures are total nonsense and of no use to the expectation of the citizens from public officials …good governance is what is expected of public officials which was the reason Nigerians wanted self government and now democracy . If we had looked at crystal ball to see the bunch of incompetent idiots like buhari, tinubu etc will mismanage this 4th republic democracy most people would have chosen to continue with the military

CoronaVirusPro:


You better thank God for Ben Ayade!

Ogun state people are ready to exchange Dapo for Ben

I will gladly accept Abiodun

I'm impressed, make the people happy, A good name is better than riches.

orohbirodeysmel:
Otti is the man a swear. PDP wasted 16 years that Abia State would have used and become Dubai...if no be PDP rigging wetin concern Ikpeazụ with governance...a crude, shameless tout.

Welcome to the New Abia State...Aba is now the cleanest city in Nigeria go there and see for yourself.

Otti abeg do fast fast make you come become governor of Oyo State. We need you badly, brown roofs 🟤🤎 want choke us to death, come help us develop Oyo State 😎

24 years not 16

JB is good but Lagos uses CECCEC cos they're cheaper and do the same quality. Dunno why most governors overlook them.

This is what a director in the ministry of works in the Lagos State government told me upon enquiry.

WebSurfer:
Imagine still voting PDP and APC and an average Nigerian wants change.. we can clearly see that a Majority of Nigerians are the reason why Nigeria have been backward.

Ethinicity and religion will finish you before you all in that country before you realize Nigeria cannot grow or work out until people become one.

A beg make we hear something! There are other state governors who are doing well in PDP and APC, it is not about party but the mindset of the governor.

Metrix147:
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The only construction company that delivers. It takes balls to engage them whether federal or state. Go up north and see what they do. You hardly see the north engaging dantata & sawoe but they bring them here to deliberately mess up the South. Over 16 years on Ewu hill in edo state doing waec on one flyover. The section of roads awarded to them (Auchi to Ekpoma) is the worse road in edo state. Murafvckin company.

Igbo land must be great again

God bless Otti
God bless Peter Obi
God bless ndi Abia
Abia must be great again