Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, said he has taken note of the Okpo-Achara Ihechiowa Road and assured that the Honourable Commissioner for Works, Otumchere Otti, would look into it.
He made this known during the monthly media chat with journalists, tagged “Governor Alex Otti Speaks to Abians,” on Thursday after the issue was brought to his attention by Daniel Maduagwu of Daily Post.
The Governor stated that the road should have been awarded, as announced during the 2025 New Yam Festival by the Chairman of the Abia State Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Linus Nto Mbah. He said that if it had not been awarded, the Commissioner for Works would have investigated the delay and reported back to him.
“I’ll let the Commissioner for Works find out what is going on. If we did say that it has been awarded, then it should have been, so we will find out what is going on. I’ve taken note of that.”
On land administration, the Governor revealed that the target is to digitise every parcel of land in the state to prevent people from being scammed. He said his administration would be launching intervention housing schemes and pocket layouts in Umuahia to help maintain stability in rent control, so that people can plan and predict.
In the area of Creativity, Arts and Culture, he said there is ongoing work at the Ibom Waterfall in Arochukwu, while work is also at an advanced stage at the Ojukwu Bunker and the War Museum, which the state, in collaboration with the Federal Government, is championing.
“We believe that when done, it will be a tourist attraction.”
On transportation, the Governor disclosed that the next 20 electronic buses have been received by the state, and the government is working out the routes. The proposed routes include Umuahia–Bende–Arochukwu, Umuahia–Umunneochi, Umuahia–Okigwe–Abia State University, Umuahia–Michael Okpara University–Ikwuano, Aba–Ukwa, Aba–Owerri, and Umuahia–Owerri.
“Those are possible routes that we will be plying. The buses have now been installed with an electronic surveillance system because we discovered that some drivers move outside their routes and pick passengers. In each of the buses, there’s a surveillance system which will alert the control centre anytime the driver is doing the wrong thing.”
He stated that a driver who was videoed acting unruly, and whose conduct trended on social media, has been disengaged to serve as a lesson to others. He urged residents to report drivers who behave unruly, stressing that the buses belong to the people. He also assured that the Aba Bus Terminal would be completed soon and opened for public use.
On the remodelling of Ekeoha Market, the Governor said Phase One has been completed, and allocation is currently ongoing, while the commissioning will take place very soon. He added that Phase Two will commence shortly.
He also applauded the security agencies for the tremendous work they are doing to maintain relative peace in the state.