Otti tasks Julius Berger on Aba road

From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has tasked construction giants, Julius Berger, on the permanent breaking of the dilapidation jinx of Port Harcourt Road in Aba and build a solid road that will revive the long-abandoned economic activities in the area.
Otti, who gave the task, yesterday, during the flag-off of the reconstruction of the 6.7 kilometres Port Harcourt Road, Aba, said he was glad his administration was taking yet another strategic step in fulfilling one of his major campaign promises
Recalling the economic importance of the road, Otti noted that artisanship activities and other major business activities within Port Harcourt Road once gave Aba a set of peculiar advantages, starting from the early 1980s when Sam Mbakwe, former governor of old Imo State, constructed the road to allow Abians access to the oil industrial complex in Port Harcourt.
“For about two decades, it was all bliss and blush for businesses around this area until things began to fall apart in the mid to late 1990s, followed quickly by the unfortunate collapse and abandonment of the 2000s.
“Nothing seemed to work thereafter. In time, the businesses, including those that had their corporate headquarters around here began to disappear, finding more favourable locations as it became clear that succeeding administrations did not have the will to make the right commitments to restore this stretch of road and sustain its economic advantages, until today.
Otti expressed optimism that on completion, the reconstructed Port Harcourt Road will drive the economic rejuvenation of the resilient city of Aba and send a clear message to the businesses that had left that the “Elephant is back on its feet, never to stumble again.”
On April 27, Otti had led representatives of Julius Berger on an inspection tour of the road to get a first hand knowledge of the scope of work to be done.
The road, one of the most dilapidated federal roads in Abia State was said to have been awarded to Julius Berger at the cost N30 billion and will be completed in 18 months time.
It was gathered that Julius Berger will not only reconstruct the road but also build a flood control outlet within the Uratta, Ohabiam and Ndiegoro flood-ravaged axis of Aba.