The Abia State Government is set to commence construction of a 200-metre link road connecting Bende Road with the First Bank and Akanu Ibiam Road axis in Umuahia as part of measures to improve traffic flow and modernise transportation in the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists at Government House, Umuahia, on the decisions reached at the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Kanu said the project would extend from the Bende Road junction around the Post Office Tower, pass through the railway crossing and connect the First Bank and Akanu Ibiam Road areas.
He explained that the project followed a Memorandum of Understanding between the state government and the Nigerian Railway Corporation.
“In accordance with the state government’s agenda of raising the state’s transport sector to 21st century standards, we recently signed an MOU with the Nigerian Railway Corporation to construct a 200-metre road extension,” Kanu said.
He added that design and scoping activities for the project had commenced ahead of the construction work.
According to the commissioner, the government has also begun renovating and retrofitting an existing structure within the railway station to facilitate the relocation of the police post currently located in the area.
“Construction of the road will commence soon with the design and scoping of the road. Work has also commenced on the renovation and retrofitting of one of the existing structures within the railway station, with a view to relocating the present police post,” he stated.
Kanu further disclosed that the government would reconstruct the abandoned road connecting First Bank with the Keystone Bank, FCMB and other banks in the area.
Meanwhile, the commissioner announced significant progress on the Emede-Ibeku Flood Control Programme.
He said site clearing had been completed, piling was about 90 per cent finished, while drainage excavation and construction had reached approximately 80 per cent completion.
On public safety, Kanu disclosed that the Umuahia Capital Development Authority had identified a number of structurally defective buildings within the state capital.
He said the affected structures had been sealed as a precautionary measure to prevent possible loss of lives.
Providing an update on the Abia Green Shuttle Bus Service, the commissioner said the scheme had continued to attract commuters since its introduction.
Kanu disclosed that the buses transported 196,950 passengers during the free-ridership period between December 2025 and February 2026.
Following the commercialisation of the service in March, another 303,834 passengers reportedly used the buses between March and the end of August 2026.
This brings the total number of passengers conveyed by the scheme since its launch to 560,784.
“The figures indicate that a lot of Abians and residents are using the bus services and taking advantage of the efficient services being rendered by the Abia Green Shuttle scheme,” Kanu said.
The commissioner reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to infrastructure development, transportation reforms and other measures aimed at improving living conditions for residents across the state.
The briefing was attended by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, and the General Manager of the Umuahia Capital Development Authority, Kingsley Agomuo.
