Ikpeazu begins rehabilitation of Ngwa road, others

Residents of Ngwa Road Aba and its environs have heaved a sigh of relief, following the commencement of work on the rehabilitation of  roads in the area, aimed at opening up the strategic, but  neglected area of Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State.

 It is estimated that about 40 percent of Aba residents live at Ngwa Road; however, the area lacked basic amenities and good sanitation. Consequently, the attention the new administration in Abia is paying to the area, would enhance the living condition of the people of the area.

The State Government is currently building a cluster of  five roads in the area, of which when completed would not only decongest the Aba city centre, but would also  increase commercial activities in the area, which hosts micro small and medium entrepreneurs engaged in the production of boxer shots, shirts and ladies gowns.

This is as the area also hosts three major markets, namely, Nkwo Ngwa, Ahia Ohuru and Eziukwu road market.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who decried the state of roads in the area, promised to continue to work to improve the quality of life of the people of the State.

Ikpeazu, while on inspection of the ongoing road projects in the area on Monday, apologised to residents of Ngwa Road and environs for the neglect, the area has suffered under previous administrations in the State.

The Governor observed that nobody has remembered residents of the area for years and promised that the present administration in the State, would re-write history, by providing infrastructure in the area.

The roads, when completed would enhance trade and commerce in the area. Ngwa road and its environs, houses a cluster of micro, small and medium entrepreneurs engaged in the production of boxer shots, shirts and ladies gowns.

To aid the activities of these artisans and improve the lives of the residents, the State Government has commenced the construction of 5 clusters of roads in the area, namely Ibere, Aghalandu, Victoria, Ibadan streets. Four more roads in the area will also follow immediately according to the Governor.

In Ikpeazu’s words, “For the past 60 years nobody remembered people living in that area. And one Saturday afternoon, I was led in the spirit to pay an unscheduled visit to the area and what I saw brought tears to my eyes and we decided to do 5 roads and we are going into another four.  Those roads are going to be completed with cement pavement technology and street lights.

You can see also that there are a lot of industrial activities going on in that area. By the way, I want to apologise  to people living in Ngwa road that previous Governments were not able to do their roads before now and we thank God that he has placed it in our hearts to go there and we are determined to finish those roads the best we can.

He however appealed to them to ensure that they protect the facilities that would be provided for them at the completion of work in the area.

“You can notice that they are the worst culprits in bringing out their biological waste to the road. All the houses there must have facilities for bathroom and toilet. We will no longer allow them to bring their waste water to the streets.

He however appealed to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to commence work on Obohia road, another major road in Ngwa road axis, linking Aba South with Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East and Ukwa West Local Government Areas, to fast tract development in the area.

 “Even as we reside in Umuahia, we feel for our brothers and sisters that reside in this place, and I pray that God will continue to provide for us, so that we would continue to provide dividends of democracy for our people, “he promised.

To ensure that the road is realized in good time before the rain sets in, Eziuche Ubani, Abia commissioner for works, explained that the construction companies working in the area have been heavily mobilized to ensure that they cover enough grounds before the rains sets in.

 According to Ubani, the road would come with drainages on both sides, to stop flooding. It would also have street lights to increase business time in the area. 

Aba is crucial to the economic development of Abia State, hence the State Government’s investment in infrastructure, especially road. The ongoing urban renewal of Aba, is geared towards opening up the commercial city, to make it more attractive to patrons within and outside the country, that throng the city, daily.

Other ongoing road projects inspected by Governor Okezie, include New Umuahia Road, Brass/Faulks road, which also hosts the Ife-Obara Basin, Kingdom Hall Street-World Bank Estate, Old Express, Umu-Ojima/Umuode road in Osisioma Local Government Area, Umeochala road in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area and Aba road, Umuahia