Governor Alex Otti has officially flagged off the reconstruction of the 11.1-kilometer Obehie-Umudobia-Owaza Road in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State.
The road, which he said will feature double drainage and solar street lights, is expected to enhance accessibility in the oil-rich region, home to the Abia Industrial and Innovation Park.
Speaking at the flag-off on Tuesday, Otti highlighted the historic economic contributions of Ukwa West, lamenting that despite its oil wealth, the area had suffered years of neglect and environmental degradation.
“Unfortunately, the economic boom that came with the discovery and production of crude oil did not bring the expected development here. Rather than a rapid socio-economic turnaround, what happened was a tragic betrayal of the high hopes and expectations that had heralded the discovery of oil in the late 50s,” he stated.
However, he reaffirmed his administration’s determination to reverse this trend, adding that agencies like the Abia State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (ASOPADEC) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) would be involved in restoring lost years.
“The joyful atmosphere around here this afternoon is proof that we are moving in the right direction, that the era of neglect and all the communities within the land is over,” he declared.
He assured residents of his administration’s commitment to power restoration, and water supply in the region. He declared 2025 as a year of “emergency on water,” noting that efforts were already in place to resolve the problem.
“As I leave here, I’m going to instruct the Honourable Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities to come back here, and evaluate what is required with a view to ensuring that power is restored here.
“I have no doubt that before the end of the month, you will have power here,” he said.
“We’ve taken over nine months to study what the problem is, and we have found a solution. So in no distant future, I believe that our water revolution will get here,” he assured.
The governor also noted improvements in governance, including prompt salary payments, cleaner streets, and a more transparent recruitment process into the state civil service.
“For the first time in many years, we have opened employment in the state civil service to a wide population of applicants through a competitive and transparent process so that qualified individuals, irrespective of their political and economic background, can have a shot at a proper job,” he stated.
Otti concluded by officially launching the road construction, promising that his government would continue prioritizing development and healthy living across the state.
