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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State Government said it would soon commence the 2nd phase of the renovation of Ariaria International Market, Aba having completed renovation work on a section of the A Line of the market.
The Commissioner of Information, Prince Okey Kanu who disclosed The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu who disclosed this while briefing journalists in Umuahia, explained that government was committed to ensuring that traders who owned shops before the renovation are not denied access to the newly constructed shops during the redevelopment process.
He informed that the Ministry of Trade and Commerce has been directed to conclude the validation of affected shop owners before the commencement of the next phase of the renovation exercise.
“The affected traders have until October 31, to get re-validated before this window of opportunity closes”, he said.
Kanu used the occasion to announce that Governor Alex Otti, will on October 21, formally flag off the reconstruction of the 3.95-kilometre Old Express Road and the 3.9-kilometre Uratta Road, both in Aba.
He explained that the projects aligned with the Abia State Integrated Infrastructure Development Project (ABSIID) that embodies the Otti-led administration’s infrastructure strategy of addressing long- standing challenges with modern scalable solutions.
He revealed that construction work has already commenced on the roads ahead of the formal flag-off ceremony, adding that more road projects would be flagged -off in due course as part of the ABSIID Projects.
The commissioner further disclosed that work is ongoing at 53 direct-labour project locations across the state, out of which four projects had been completed, while seven new projects had been added to the Ministry of Works’ maintenance programme.
According to him, the completed projects include the construction of the access road to Umuobia Housing Estate in Umuahia and Nnoǹọ Road in Ikwuano Local Government Area.
Others are the rainy-season maintenance of approximately 40.6 kilometres of Ururuka Road, which traverses Umuahia South, Isialangwa North, Isialangwa South and Obingwa local government areas, as well as the rainy-season maintenance of Ohiya community road in Umuahia.
Kanu listed the newly added direct-labour projects to include the construction of Ihie-Obegu Road in Ugwunagbo Local Government Area; the first phase of Nkwereonye-Umuogo Road at Ubakala in Umuahia South; erosion control works at Amaeke Afarata, Ibeku; rainy-season maintenance of Osisioma Flyover in Aba; and maintenance of Umuahia-Bende Road.
He also revealed that 25 roads are currently under contract, adding that the first phase of Bende-Idima Road had been completed.
The commissioner announced that the 2026 Abia Mass Mosquito Net Campaign would be formally launched on Friday, October 16, in Umuahia.
He said about 3.4m mosquito nets would be distributed across the state during the exercise.
Kanu added that the state would commemorate the 2026 World Sight Day on Thursday, October 15, at the Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal.
He said the choice of the terminal was deliberate, as this year’s activities would focus on drivers and the need to promote eye health among road users.
