The Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has restated commitment to constructing roads that will improve trade and commercial operations in the state.

Otti stated this on Sunday, 5 November 2023, during the inauguration of the MCC/Old Express Road in Aba.

He also stated that his administration believes that developing good roads is vital to enhancing vehicular movement and enabling companies to grow.

He said that the government had granted contracts for the restoration and rehabilitation of some key economic development highways.

He said, “We cannot drive the kind of economic rejuvenation that we seek if our most important roads are in bad shape.”

The Governor stated that the restored road demonstrated that the administration has undertaken a comprehensive restoration of Aba and the state as a whole. Otti insisted that the road’s completion signified that “Aba is open for business” and urged potential investors to take advantage of the state’s abundant opportunities.

“Our motivation in government is to create the right environment for individuals to live out the full expression of their dreams.”

“We are also interested in supporting the growth of enterprises and setting up a safe haven for legitimately profitable and sustainable investments,” he said.

Otti also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to developing programmes and policies that would promote the formation of the finest investment paths and partnerships, so encouraging the government to better serve the people.

He also stated that the government had taken steps to address the issue of perennial floods in Aba permanently.

The governor stated that his administration has granted contracts for the reconstruction of economically significant highways in local government regions.

“We are working very hard to reconstruct several other roads in about nine LGAs through a special multilateral funding arrangement that gives the state a pathway to fix roads to boost agriculture productivity and produce marketing,” he added.

Chief Jerry Kalu, President of the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture, in his speech, praised the government for its efforts to reconstruct Abia. Kalu said that the current administration’s reconstruction strategy will go a long way towards strengthening the state’s socioeconomic prosperity.

Earlier, Mr Eric Shen, Director of China Civil Engineering Construction Company, thanked the state government and the host community for their assistance in completing the road project.

Shen stated that the road was built to the greatest engineering standards and requirements in order to withstand the test of time.

He hailed the road as a critical tool for fostering socioeconomic growth, adding that it will significantly improve residents’ living standards.

In a similar development, the state’s Commissioner for Works, Mr Otumchere Oti, stated that the current administration was eager to change the state’s narrative on good road networks and infrastructure.

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Otti stated that the newly renovated MCC Old Express, Udeagbala, and Umuimo Roads in Aba were structurally created with the best road construction criteria, including street lighting and drainages.

He asked citizens to refrain from engaging in activities that could jeopardise the road’s serviceability.