Otti commissions rehabilitation of 11.5km Ntigha-Mbawsi-Umuala Road

Gov. Alex Otti of Abia, on Monday, commissioned the 11.5-kilometer Ntigha-Mbawsi-Umuala Road in Isiala-Ngwa Local Government Area for rehabilitation.

In a speech at the ceremony held at Nsulu, Otti said that the project had been designed to essentially foster social and economic empowerment in the area.

He also described the project as a part of Abia Government’s development agenda to connect cities and towns to create a long stretch of organised and secured urban communities.

The governor said, “Every community is strategic to our overall development framework.

“It is in the light of the fact that every part of the state offers some comparative advantage that can be leveraged upon to stimulate growth, create job opportunities, and support the utilisation of local raw materials.

“Our target is to establish an integrated development paradigm that creates opportunities for every community to develop with the raw materials and body of human and material resources found within.

“The long term goal is to cut down rural-urban migration by closing the development gaps between the urban and rural communities in the state”.

Otti said that the execution of the project would follow the technical specifications as contained in the design submitted and approved by the State Ministry of Works.

He explained that the government would consistently meet its financial obligations to the contractor as and when due, with strict monitoring.

Otti affirmed the government’s commitment to continually evolve programmes and policies that would drive even socioeconomic development of every part of the state.

He said, ”This 11.5km road begins from Ntigha Junction on the Enugu-Port Harcourt dual carriageway transversing through Nsulu Community, terminating at the New Umuahia Road”.

In an address, the Commissioner for Works, Mr Otumchere Oti, said that the road had been designed to be an asphaltic concrete road with a carriage way of 7 meters with 1.5meter wide shoulders on either side.

“The shoulders also are in asphaltic concrete, the pavement consists of 200 millimeter thick approved laterite soft base, 200 milimeter thick approved stone base, 60 milimeter thick asphaltic binder course and 40 millimeter thick asphaltic wearing cost,” Oti said.

He further said that the road would have road signs, kilometer poles, roadway markings and solar street lights, as well as drainages where necessary with access laps at required sections.

In a speech, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr Caleb Ajagba, described the project as a demonstration of government’s commitment to improving the welfare of the people.

Ajagba said that plans were underway to execute more developmental projects in the area to actualise the rebuilding agenda of the present administration.

In a remark, the Chairman of Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Mr Innocent Uruakpa, thanked the governor for fulfilling his campaign promise to the people in the area.

Uruakpa said that the road when completed, would boost productivity and revenue generation in the area.

Earlier, the Project Contractor, Mr Raim Naful, said that the project would be delivered in adherence to specifications as approved by the government.

“We shall ensure that the project is completed within the specified time and engage members of the community for employment during its execution,” Naful said.