Gov Otti Reaffirms Commitment To Partnership with FG On Infrastructure Development
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to collaborate with the Federal Government in delivering key infrastructure projects that will impact positively on the lives of the people.
Governor Otti gave the assurance, Thursday, when he received the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, who paid him an unscheduled visit at his country home in Nvosi, Isialangwa South Local Government Area.
The Governor while welcoming the Minister and his delegation, expressed gratitude for the visit and the Federal Government’s support to Abia,
assuring that the State would.continue to partner with the Federal Government to deliver meaningful development to the people.
“I want to reassure you that we’ll work with the Federal Government and ensure that we work together collaboratively for the benefit of our people”, Otti said.
He recounted his encounter with President Bola Tinubu when he ( the Governor) approval from the Federal Government to rehabilitate the dilapidated Port Harcourt Road in Aba, a federal road.
“I told him it was a federal road in such a terrible condition and that I wanted to do it. So I required two things from him: One, the approval to do it. And secondly, the refund of the money that I will use to do the road.
“And he laughed and asked me: who uses the road? When you finish building the road, who will use it? Is it the federal government? I said, no. He said, if you want to do something, go and do it for Abia people”, Otti recalled.
The Governor said the President thereafter directed the Minister of Works to grant the necessary approvals, which Umahi promptly did, enabling the State to reconstruct the road.
“A year and six months down the line, the road is completed”, the Governor announced.
He also disclosed that similar approvals were secured for other critical roads such as the Ohafia-Arochukwu Road and the Umueme-Umuahia route, with work already underway.
Governor Otti stressed that what matters most is the delivery of quality infrastructure that benefits the people, regardless of whether the credit goes to the Federal or State Government.
“When those roads are done, the credit goes to government. Whether it is the one at the center or the one at the state, it’s government. And then the beneficiaries are the people”, he said.
The Governor also cited testimonies from freight forwarders who recently visited to express gratitude over the improved travel time for goods from Port Harcourt to Aba due to the completed road.
“You’ll be amazed that a lot of the containers you have there are headed for Aba. But today, it takes them hours from Port Harcourt into Aba,” Otti said.
On plans for commissioning the completed Port Harcourt road, Governor Otti explained that the event was rescheduled due to the President’s recent trip to the Vatican, but assured that a new date would soon be agreed upon with the Presidency.
He praised the Minister’s legacy in Ebonyi State, describing him as a leader whose achievements underscore that vision, not just resources, determines success in governance.
“It shows clearly that everything is not about resources. It’s about vision. Once you have a clear vision, somehow the resources will come. And that’s what we’re doing here”, Otti remarked.
Speaking earlier, the Minister for Works, Engr Dave Umahi commended Governor Otti for his Intervention on Federal Roads in Abia, describing the efforts as a major relief for residents and road users across the State.
Engr Umahi who said he was in Abia to inspect Federal Projects as well as road projects executed by the State Government, lauded Governor Otti for the newly reconstructed Port Harcourt Road, Aba.
The Works Minister revealed that President Tinubu had granted express approval for State Governors to rehabilitate Federal Roads within their jurisdictions since both Federal and State roads serve the same citizens.
He further thanked Governor Otti for his support in the ongoing construction of the Umuahia and Aba sections of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, morning that the dual carriageway of the Aba-Port Harcourt Road, which is less than a kilometer to completion, will be commissioned by November this year.
Umahi who disclosed that the administration of President Tinubu inherited 2,604 road projects across the country, appealed to State Governors to complement the efforts of the Federal Government by taking on Federal Roads in their respective states.
He noted that the Tinubu administration has demonstrated considerable goodwill towards the South East region, as evidenced by the numerous Federal Road projects ongoing across the zone and urged the people of the South East to support the President’s re-election bid in 2027.
