Road infrastructure : Citizens hopeful that project will impact lives upon completion

By Editor, Umuahia

After over four decades of neglect, the Ohafia/Arochukwu road will be receiving a major reconstruction for the first time.

As important as the road is, it has been in a state of dilapidation hindering economic growth, easy access to and out of the community.

It is a 43 kilometres road that terminates at Amuvi in Arochukwu.

The recent flag off by governor Alex Otti for reconstruction of the road has been described by some indegenes of the area as a milestone.

Those who spoke to CSUnews at Old soldier junction Ebem Ohafia during the flag of on Wednesday said they could have a sigh of relief because of the project.

According to Obasi Kalu “the governor has shown that he is the Messiah we have been praying for to wipe our tears.

“For over four decades, no one has thought of fixing the road since the time of M.I. Okpara. We have been suffering it. At least, when fixed, cost of transportation will reduce and poverty will stop in our land.”

Uduma Nnanna, for his part, decried how successive governments allegedly diverted funds on the pretence of working the road.

Governor Otti in his speech titled “Beyond Road, A Jinx Is Being Broken,” declared that the age-long saying that “o nweghi uzo e si a ga Aro, di nso would soon be a thing of the past as he was committed to ensure the project was a success.

“As a government, our most important obligation is to solve problems — ease the burden facing the people, create economic-advancement opportunities within communities, and build new systems of advantages for the next generation.

” Today, we have come to begin a holistic process that will put an end to this age-old nightmare and give fellow Abians living in the over 60 communities and clans around this corridor, a new lease of life, he said.

The reconstruction of the 41.4 kilometre Ohafia-Arochukwu road will be completed in 18 months which means that by February of 2026, the story of deplorable Arochukwu road will be in the past.

However, governor Alex Otti did not disclose the cost implication of the reconstruction work which is an important element in the project.

The road was the only route to the heritage sites in Arochukwu as the governor observed in his speech that “this road quickly became a major economic enabler leading to a boom in agriculture, commerce, and tourism as individuals and families came in their numbers to either trade, or visit the many important National Heritage Sites in Arochukwu including the ‘Osu gwodo gwodo’ Waterfall, the Ibini Ukpabi Shrine and other places of interest for research and leisure purposes.”

The road is a link to neighbouring Akwa Ibom and Cross River states which encouraged trades in any of the states by locals with so much ease.

The governor said the state wanted to give the people who live in that part of the state a sense of belonging and also save the federal government of embarrassment the road causes it.

He however has called on the federal government to see the need to refund the money the state will spend on fixing the federal road.

He further announced that the government will not roll the road in order not to add to the hardship of the masses.

Meanwhile the . Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development, FENRAD, a pro-democracy and environmental rights advocacy group in Abia State has lauded the initiative to drive development through “massive road infrastructure provision in Abia State. “

The Foundation in a statement has expressed happiness that after years of neglect and abandonment, over sixty communities living in the corridor where the road project traversed can now breathe in a fresh air.

” It is sad that the said road was abandoned and allowed to suffer a total collapse that laid waste to it after many decades.”

Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, the Executive Director Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy & Development (FENRAD observed that the decay is one that spanned decades until the recent intervention by the governor.

He said “the forty-four-kilometer refundable project under reconstruction by the state government, when completed, the Foundation believes, will not only bring about intensified agricultural productivity but also ensure effective communication between agrarian communities and suburbs thereby creating a better food price regime.

” Again, in the interest of inclusion, especially to ensure that no part of the state is left out, it is wise that not only city roads get a facelift, but those in semi/urban city centres.”

Hopefully, the road project will be completed on record time.