The first phase of the 2-day tour of projects of the current administration of Governor Alex Chioma Otti’s one year anniversary in office embarked on by Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria(OMPAN) Abia State on Thursday 23rd May,2024 commenced with the inspection of projects located in Aba.
The findings of the media tour will go along way to inform the public on how the current administration has been able to deliver dividends of democracy to Abians as well as pave way for effective coverage and dissemination of reports about government policies and programmes to
the people.
The media tour also seeks to draw the attention of Abians and Nigerians in general to the major achievements of Governor Alex Otti under one year in office.
As watch dog of the society OMPAN tried as much as possible to be very objective in reportage of their observations and findings in the course of the projects monitoring.
The tour which kicked -started from Osisioma- Ekeakpara road ended at Kent street after solid eight hours during which the Online Media Practitioners criss crossed the length and breadth of Enyimba city,inspecting projects as well as getting the reactions of people concerning the policies and impact of the current administration of Governor Alex Otti.
The exercise worth its salt although energy-sapping as it revealed a lot about Governor Otti’s impactful infrastructural development in the social and economic life of the people of Aba,who are mostly business people and the areas government needs to improve on.
The List of roads inspected during the tour include the following:
- Ekeakpara Road
- Geometric Road
- Ariaria junction to Egberi Omuma
- Umuode Road
- Rehabilitation of Umuocham Road
- College Road
- Green Avenue
- University Road
- Umuodu Road
- Shalom Road
- Umuimo Road
- Port Harcourt Road
- Old Court Road
- Ehi Road and
- Kent street.
The team visited Osisioma Ekeakpara road,the road covering about 3.5km was on going. Interacting with few residents of the area,they expressed appreciation to Governor Otti for remembering the road after many years of abandonment by previous governments which made the road impassable, however lamented the non seriousness of the contractor handling the road, explaining that since the Governor flagged off the road,the contactors have not shown signs of completing the project on time,while pleading with the Governor to call them to order.
” Since that day Oga came and flagged off this Osisioma Ekeakpara road, the contractors are not being serious,help us tell the Governor to call them to order” they said
From there,the media team moved to Ariaria market road and inspected the construction of the Ariaria junction to Egberi Omuma road.It is on going with the Engineers on site.
Interacting with a business man, Engr. Nwogwugwu ,he described the road as impassable flooded road before Governor Otti came and awarded it to the company .” We thank God for Governor Otti,he is God sent to Ndi Aba”
The team also visited Umuode ,Umuocham roads ,Umueze ,Uba akirika road leading to Early learning, College road, University, Umuoduroad, Green Avenue ,Shalom road and Umuimo road.
Some of the residents who spoke with our team were Hon.Nwaeze Chamberlain and Marculay Onyeze. According to them “these roads were terribly bad that it was actually flooded area, totally abandoned before God sent Governor Alex Otti. At a time,some landlords sold their properties at auction price and left this place but now you can see how smooth and good the roads are. We are praying for Governor Otti “
Also the team visited Port Harcourt road which is being constructed by Julus Berger.
The Engineers handling the project were on ground doing their job.
A trader who introduced himself as Hon.Patrick Duru, said,” For roughly 24 years this place was impassable which led to the collapse of our businesses.Many traders left this place because our business partners from Port Harcourt stopped coming because of the nature of the area then but now we are happy,the whole Area have come back to life.God bless our Governor”
The team from there moved to Old court road, Ehi road where the shopping center is located and rounded off at Kent street. These roads are all completed and economic activities are booming within the Area. One of the traders at Ehi road who spoke with the us said apart from the good road that the Governor constructed that they now use solar lights in the market to boost their business activities in the evening.
One significant thing through out the tour is that Aba people are so happy with what Governor Alex Otti is doing in Enyimba city and this they freely exprrssed through their prayers and goodwill messages.
The tour continues today around the Capital city and environs!
