By Vincent Kalu
The Umunneochi community in Abia State was agog recently when Governor Alex Otti flagged off the construction of the 11.27-kilometre Mbala – Umuaku – Ngodo Road.
While flagging off the road project, Otti said that Umunneochi Local Government Area occupies a unique place in the geography and socio economic evolution of Abia State in particular and the South East Region in general. He assured that the project was the beginning of good things in the area.
He reaffirmed his dedication to delivering quality and standard road networks across the state. He also emphasised that the construction would provide relief to residents, businesses and commuters who have long suffered from the poor state of the Mbala-Umuaku-Ngodo road.
He assured the traditional rulers, president generals and the entire Umunneochi people that no community will be left behind in the accelerated developmental framework of the new Abia.
The governor also pointed out that his administration was currently retrofitting several primary health care facilities around Umunneochi LGA under a special intervention project in the health care sector named “Project Ekwueme”.
He also stated that his administration has pencilled down reasonable number of primary and secondary schools in Umunneochi for re-modelling under the Abia First Education Transformation Programme, which has been launched in Umuahia.
Governor Otti equally announced that the Leru – Lekwesi – Lokpanta – Lokpaukwu road, which the people had requested that he fix, had already been earmarked for reconstruction by his administration. He directed the Commissioner for Works to inspect the Nmang Bridge in the area and bring the report to enable him make plans to construct it.
While reeling out his economic development programme for the area, Dr Otti stated that in view of the significant importance of the agricultural developmental agenda of his administration, and considering the cashew belt and other export friendly agro commodities that are massively cultivated around the region, that Umunneochi has been selected as one of the three local governments where his administration will site a multi-million naira agro facility.
The facility will integrate production aggregation and possessing of agro commodities for local consumption and exports, adding that it will also come with dedicated infrastructure, including independent energy ecosystem.
The governor thanked the people for their support to his administration and said that the success in the restoration of security in Umunneochi points to oneness among leaders.
“We may belong to different political linings, and groups, but the welfare of the good people of Umunneochi must never be sacrificed on the altar of petty partisan politics,” Gov. Otti stated.
In his speech, the Mayor of Umunneochi LGA, Hon Chief Sony Afurobi, said that the state governor has restored peace in Umunneochi by fearlessly combating kidnapping and other criminalities. This gesture, he stressed, has rejuvenated the economy of Umunneochi.
While describing the project as a unifying factor for the entire Umunneochi people, the member representing Isuikwuato /Umunneochi Federal Constituency, Chief Amobi Ogah; and the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha thanked Governor Otti for coming to the rescue of Umunneochi people.
They applauded the governor for his developmental strides in the state and passionately appealed to him to assist in fixing the Nmang Bridge in Umunneochi LGA.
Hon Ogah pointed out that the Umuaku-Mbala-Ngodo road once completed will enhance productivity with in Umunneochi and serves as a vital link between the farmers and traders who rely on good road network, enhance commerce and improve the standard of living across Umunneochi. He reassured the governor that come 2027, the people of Isuikwuato -Umunneochi Federal Constituency will appreciate him by giving him their votes.
While also emphasising that the Mbala -Umuaku – Ngodo road is strategic to the economy of Abia State and other South East states, the member representing Umunneochi State Constituency, Chief Mathias Umeh, and the Commissioner for Lands and Housing Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije, thanked the governor for his infrastructural revolution across the state.
Hon. Ume pointed out that Umunneochi people are like Oliver Twist, and pleaded with the governor to consider the construction of some dilapidated bridges linking Umunneochi to other states in the South East.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Works, Otumchere Otti, pointed out that the area harbours agrarian communities and produce different types of agricultural products in commercial quantity, such as cashew, cassava, yam and black beans, and said that the road construction would open up the communities for greater economic opportunities.
He said that the road when completed would bring about growth in agribusiness in the area and provide direct and indirect employment for both skilled and unskilled manpower and would by extension impact positively on the state’s internally generated revenue.
According to the Works commissioner, the project has a contract period of 12 months, stressing that provision has been made for culverts and drains with street lights at built up areas and expressed optimism that the contractor will deliver in accordance with set standards.
Other dignitaries that attended the event included the Chairman, Greater Ohafia Development Authority (GODA), Chief Obinna Odum; the Leader of the Hausa community in Umunneochi, Alhaji Saleh Algare; President General, Isuochi Development Union, Chief Ochiabuto Orji; the clergy; Chief Ebere Nwankwo (Ebere Umunneochi); Abia Arise, Umunneochi; Ndi Eze, among others. Cultural dancers were on ground to spice up the event.