Governor Alex Otti Vows to End Long-Standing "No Easy Route to Aro" Adage with Ohafia-Arochukwu Road Reconstruction
During the flag-off ceremony, which was met with widespread ovation from the locals, Governor Otti emphasized his administration's commitment to making every part of Abia accessible.
In a significant step towards improving infrastructure in Abia State, Governor Alex Otti on Wednesday flagged off the reconstruction of the 41.4-kilometer Ohafia-Arochukwu federal road. This ancient regional road, initially constructed in the 1960s under the late Premier of the defunct Eastern Nigeria, Dr. Michael Okpara, has suffered decades of neglect, rendering it nearly impassable. The road's current state has posed severe challenges to the over 60 communities it serves.
During the flag-off ceremony, which was met with widespread ovation from the locals, Governor Otti emphasized his administration's commitment to making every part of Abia accessible. Although the road is a federal responsibility, Otti stated that his government decided to intervene to alleviate the suffering of road users who have endured years of hardship due to its poor condition.
Governor Otti recounted the history of the road, noting that hopes of its renovation in the mid-1990s were dashed following the death of the late Military Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha. At that time, the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF) had awarded a contract for the reconstruction of the 71.8-kilometer Umuahia-Arochukwu Road, but work abruptly stopped after Abacha's death and the subsequent dissolution of the PTF. Despite funds being reportedly approved for the project around 2012, the road remained neglected, earning the dubious title of "the worst federal road in Nigeria."
Determined to end the misery faced by the people of Abia, Governor Otti asserted that his administration has taken the initiative to rehabilitate the road with the full approval of the Federal Government. He expressed confidence that the Federal Government would eventually recognize the economic significance of the project and support it in the long term. Otti also highlighted that this effort is aimed at sparing the Federal Government from the embarrassment caused by the road's deplorable condition, especially in the eyes of international visitors and tourists.
The Governor promised that all projects initiated by his administration would be completed and urged the contractor to deliver the road reconstruction promptly. The flag-off ceremony drew a massive crowd of jubilant supporters and locals, all eager to witness the historic event that marks a new chapter in the region's infrastructure development.
