In recent times, conversations on Aba shifted from its famed SME industries and business to its deplorable, impassable and flooded roads. The worsening state of the roads indicates that previous administrations were long on promises and short on delivery. 

During his campaigns, Abia State Governor Alex Otti promised to fix the roads as a matter of priority. As he clocks one year in office, the Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria, OMPAN  Abia State chapter on  Thursday May 23, 2024 embarked on a tour of the roads in Aba to assess if the governor has kept his promises
 



Besides it's SME industries and businesses, Aba is also a service and fabricating for the nearby oil states of Rivers and Akwa Ibom States, however the poor state of roads traversing the city was gradually suffocating economic life out of the city. Perhaps it is with the objectives of turning around the state of affairs in Aba and restoring it to  it's former glory, that motivated Gov Otti on assumption of office to focus on the roads in the city. 

 The OMPAN tour kicked off  from the 3.5 kilometres Osisioma Industrial Estate - Ekeakpara road whose contract was awarded about three weeks ago.





Though the contractors had mobilised to site,  residents who spoke to OMPAN complained that the contractor does not seem to share the urgency and zeal of the governor in getting the road rehabilitated. According to them after the flag off of the road, the contractor have not shown enough commitment in getting to work and completing the completely impassable road on time. 


 The Osisioma Industrial Estate - Ekeakpara road which connects to a major road also has the NNPC depot, plus other private companies along its route, but  years of abandonment by previous governments had rendered the road impassable and shut down this businesses





The OMPAN team also inspected the short access road to Geometric Power Plant rehabilitated by the Otti's administration. From there it moved to  Market Road, Ariaria, where the construction of the Ariaria junction to Egberi Omuma road is on-going 


OMPAN interacted  with a businessman, Engr. Nwogwugwu  who described the road as once  impassable and flooded. "We thank God for Gov Otti, he is Godsent to Ndi Aba" 


The team also visited  Umuode,  Umuocham roads, Umueze, Uba Akirika roads  leading to Early Learning College road. The Team also toured University, Umuodu roads,  Green Avenue, Shalom  and Umuimo roads.


Some of the residents who spoke with our team including Hon. Nwaeze Chamberlain and  Macaulay Onyeze all unanimously applauded the Otti administration for its rapid response to roads rehabilitation. 


OMPAN members on the road


According to them "these  roads were terribly bad that it was actually flooded area, totally abandoned before  Gov Otti's intervention. At a time, some landlords sold their properties at auction price and left this place but now you can see how smooth and good the roads are. We are praying for Gov Otti "


The team also visited  the biggest construction site in Aba, the Port Harcourt Road project  being constructed by the constitution giant, Julus Berger. The  company's engineers and workers were busy at the site with completed portion of the road partially accessible to Keke riders.

A trader who introduced himself as Patrick Duru told the bloggers that the road was impassable for  24 years leading to the  collapse of several businesses. "Many traders left this place because our business partners from Port Harcourt stopped coming because they could not drive in with their heavy duty vehicles to deliver heavy duty generators or machineries for servicing". The team observed the  gradual return of business life to the area, and expressed appreciation to the governor 

The Team, from Port Harcourt road moved to Old Court road,  toured Ehi road where the shopping center is located and rounded off at Kent Street.  The road had all been completed, with strongly built gutters. 

Speaking to the Team at Ehi Road, one of the traders expressed joy with the provision of solar powered street lights which he said boosts activities in the shopping centre late in the evening.

Aba, the major economic nerve centre of the State, popularly called 'Enyimba City' is also known for its political character which is often blunt and direct. Residents believe in calling a spade a spade and does not shy away from telling leaders their feelings. And from OMPAN's interaction with Aba residents, it is obvious Gov Otti has won their hearts so far with his speedy intervention on the once  much talked about Aba deplorable roads

 The list of roads toured  during the tour include the following:

1. Ekeakpara Road
2. Geometric Road
3. Ariaria junction to Egberi Omuma
4. Umuode Road
5. Rehabilitation of Umuocham Road
6. College Road
7. Green Avenue
8. University Road
9. Umuodu Road
10. Shalom Road
11. Umuimo Road
12. Port Harcourt Road 
13. Old Court Road
14. Ehi Road and 
15. Kent street.