Relief expected as Abia to reconstruct P/Harcourt road

It was a day of joy for residents and business operators at Port Harcourt road Aba, following the flag-off of the reconstruction of the road, which had been left in deplorable state for about 16 years.

Port Harcourt road, though a federal road is strategic to the economy of Abia State, as it hosts machine fabricators, automobile part dealers and the Orie Ohabiam electronics market. However, nobody can access the road at the moment.

The flag-off of the reconstruction has brought joy to Aba residents, who thronged the Ala Oji section of the road, the venue of the event to show appreciation to Governor Ikpeazu.

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State, who accompanied Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State to perform the flag-off ceremony, Friday, while on a 3-day official visit to Abia State, commended his Abia counterpart, for embarking on the project and other projects in the state.

He recounted the terrible state of the road, saying, “We used to float on this road back in the 90’s. I stayed in Aba for over 4 years from 1990 to 1994 and I was the project engineer for the famous Ndiegoro Control Measures. And so I came in contact with Port Harcourt road, Ibadan road, Ndiegoro site, Ohanku and the other roads around Ngwa road axis.

“I’m excited about the number of roads that the government of Abia has completed within the period of less than two years. “What the governor is doing at the Ariaria area of Aba is quite tremendous. How to solve the flood problem of Aba, once gave me sleepless nights, but today, I saw an ingenuity that I think is divine”.

On his part, Governor Ikpeazu, explained that the state government would deploy cement pavement technology on the six-kilometre road to make it durable.

He also explained that the plan for the new Port Harcourt road, provides six-lane expressway with a dedicated Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane from end to end and street lights, which is aimed at extending trade time in the area.

The contract was awarded to Setraco Construction Company /Heartland Construction Company and would be completed in 18 months.

The historic road is expected to open up Aba and improve the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) as businesses at that part of the commercial city would be revived.

GODFREY OFURUM, Aba