Aba (Nigeria): President Bola Tinubu has stated that Abia remains crucial to the Federal Government’s economic development plan, hence the government’s investment in the state.
Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, said this while addressing Abia residents during the inauguration of seven roads in Aba, on Friday.
He thanked the people of Abia for coming out in large numbers to welcome him, saying that the gesture demonstrated their love for him, the governor, and the state’s ongoing infrastructure development.
He said that the inaugurated roads, including Gabriel Nwosu Road, Ajiwe Road, Pepple’s Road, Ndoki Road, Umuatako and Ohanku Roads, as well as Port Harcourt Road, had restored Aba’s lost glory.
The President also stated that Abia’s importance in Nigeria’s economic development plan is the reason the government is completing the Umuahia–Abia Expressway, which is costing N66 billion.
He also said that 14 kilometres of the 49-kilometre Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene Road had been completed, while the remaining 35 kilometres had been handed over to Otti “on his request to complete”.
He stated that the Lagos–Calabar coastal highway would intersect with the Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road in Akwa Ibom, ensuring access to Lagos in five hours from Abia.
The President further stated that the government had completed 50 kilometres of the highway, comprising one full carriageway and half, which is part of the Ikot Ekpene – Aba Road, at a cost of N65 billion.
He said that work would soon start on the second carriageway.
He said that the 43-km Aba – Port Harcourt dual carriageway has had one part completed, which would also ensure residents reach Port Harcourt in 30 minutes.
Tinubu also spoke about his reforms, saying that they were beginning to yield gains, with the foreign reserve hitting N42 billion and inflation coming down to below 20 per cent.
The minister assured the people that the President would come in person before the end of the year, saying that he could not make the trip for the road inauguration due to the exigencies of duty.
Earlier, Gov Alex Otti thanked the Federal Government for assisting in the restoration of Aba as an industrial and commercial city.
Otti said that after the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road in Aba, the city had regained commercial patronage from neighbouring states.
He also stated that the restoration of Aba highlighted the benefits of collaboration among different tiers of government, noting that post-election politics need not hinder governance.
He appreciated Umahi as the Works Minister, who took an interest in improving the federal highways across the country, in line with the President’s development vision.
Otti also thanked the President for his interest in matters of socioeconomic development of Abia and the war against insecurity.
He acknowledged that economic indices were improving, resulting in the release of funds for investment, and thanked the President for his reforms.
The President had earlier, in Umuahia, inaugurated the renovated and retrofitted Okpara Auditorium, commending Otti for “turning the edifice into a sight of beauty”.
