Abia’ll No Longer Waste Taxpayers’ Money in Shoddy Road Projects, Says Gov Otti

Emmanuel  Ugwu-Nwogo  in Umuahia

Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has said that he would not repeat “the errors and misjudgements” made by past administrations in execution of road projects so that the state would get value for money spent on every project.

He stated this while flagging off the reconstruction of the 6.8km Port Harcourt Road, Aba, which was abandoned by past governments despite the strategic importance of the road to the economy of the commercial city.

Governor Otti declared in his speech titled: ‘Building on the Solid Rock of Excellence’ that over the past 20 years, billions of taxpayer’s money had been squandered on the Port Harcourt Road “without any measurable improvements in the condition of the road.”

He said that it was to avoid this pitfall that his government has engaged Julius Berger Plc to reconstruct the strategic road that runs into the city centre off the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway. 

“For us, it is either we reconstruct Port Harcourt Road and do it well or we don’t do it at all,” he said, adding that in his campaign promises he had made it clear that “we shall only go for the best because (Abians) deserve no less.” 

The governor recalled that attempts by past governments to reconstruct the road were fraught with “tragedies and heartbreaks” hence “we resisted the temptation to start another trial and error on a road as important as this.”

He said,  “We are here to rebuild, and this flag off exercise is a definite confirmation that Aba’s days of glory are about to be restored.

“For the purpose of clarity, we are not just talking about pouring asphalt or doing any haphazard job just for cheap political capital.

“We have brought Julius Berger here for some well-defined reasons: to do a holistic job of fixing the road, addressing the age-long flooding problems especially at notoriously problematic points using appropriate technology and expertise.”

Otti stated with certainty that “the days of mediocrity are over” in Abia, assuring that the road was expected to be ready in 18 months and would with minimal maintenance last a minimum of 20 years after inauguration.

“Port Harcourt, Aba was built in the second republic by the then governor of old Imo State, late Sam Mbakwe to feed into the expansion of the booming oil industrial complex in Port Harcourt.

“It is our expectation that on completion, the reconstructed Port Harcourt Road will drive the economic rejuvenation of this resilient city and send a clear message to the businesses that had left that the Elephant is back on its feet, never to stumble again,” Otti said.

According to him, globetrotting in search of investors was a waste of time and resources because “if the right structures are in place” investors would definitely come.

“Investors themselves have their independent antennas at alert all the time, picking out signals on the right investment destinations. 

“I can tell you that in the next 12 months, the economic prospects and opportunities in Aba will be too attractive for any serious investor to ignore,” the governor asserted. 

The Commissioner for Works, Otumchere Oti, explained that in the new design the 5.7km stretch of the road, originally a four-lane carriage, is now being reconstructed and expanded to six lanes with lay-bys and drainage system. 

He said that the 1.1km corridor, which yields into Aba axis of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, will be reconstructed as a four-lane carriage way with lay-bys and drainage, adding that the entire 6.8km road will be properly marked and fitted with solar powered street lights. 

The Group Managing Director of Julius Berger, Dr. Lars Richter, promised that the construction giant would deliver the project based on specification.

He commended the governor for his commitment to the infrastructural evolution of the state and expressed gratitude to him for choosing Julius Berger to be part of his rebuilding agenda in the state.