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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), at the weekend, commissioned the 9km Obehie-Oke Ikpe Road, in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, as well as flagged off the reconstruction of the second phase from Akwette in Ukwa East, to Akwa Ibom state.
This is even as the Commission has promised to rehabilitate the abandoned Power transmission station located in the area.
Speaking while performing the ceremonies at Obehie, the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku said the Commission was now transiting from a transition to a transformative stage so that the people of the Niger Delta and Nigerians as a whole could feel the impact of its interventionist activities.
He noted that his Commission embarked on the reconstruction of the road which was abandoned over the years, to reconnect Abia with Akwa Ibom state from that axis.
He said with the rehabilitated road people from Akwa Ibom state can now travel to Rivers State through Abia with ease.
While performing the flag-off of the second phase, Ogbuku said, “We are going to take the road straight to Akwa Ibom state so that the people will have a good taste of the road.”
The NDDC boss commended the contractor who handled the road project for doing a good job.
On the power transmission station, Ogbuku noted that his Commission would by next week, commission a similar station in Ondo state, but regretted that NDDC had been unable to rehabilitate that in Abia, because of the level of vandalisation.
Urging the people to always ensure government projects sited in their area were not vandalized, Ogbuku however assured that NDDC would rehabilitate the power Station.
He thanked the Abia State Government for their support which he said has made it possible for the Commission to carry out work on its project sites without hindrance.
Abia Governor Dr Alex Otti said that his administration has keyed into President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda in the area of infrastructural development.
Represented by the deputy governor, Ikechukwu Emetu, Otti said expressed joy that NDDC has with the rehabilitation of the road, brought change to the area.
Otti who said he met very bad roads in Abia when he came in as governor, however, informed his administration has reconstructed 79 roads, while 20 others are under reconstruction.
He said his administration would like to partner with NDDC to ensure all abandoned projects by the interventionist body were completed.
The commissioner representing Abia at the NDDC Board, Chief Eruba Dimgba, said that the reconstruction of the road was a testament to the commitment of the NDDC and the Abia State Government to the development of the area.
Enumerating the economic importance of the road, Dimgba said the people of the area would have a new lease of life with the rehabilitation of the road.
Chairman of the traditional rulers council, Ukwa West, Eze Chinyerem Dike commended NDDC for its good works in the area and appealed for the rehabilitation of the power plant in the area and the dualization of the Obehie-Oke Ikpe Road.
Natives who spoke at the event gave kudos to NDDC for rehabilitating the road and called for more projects to be sited in the area.
