Members of the Renewed Hope Presidential Media Team have applauded Governor Alex Otti’s infrastructure drive in Abia State, describing the ongoing transformation across critical sectors as evidence of remarkable progress and purposeful leadership.
The commendation came during an inspection tour of major federal and state government projects across the state led by the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Mr. Sunday Dare, alongside the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.
Speaking after inspecting several projects, Dare said the pace of development under the Otti administration had positioned Abia among the states recording significant progress in infrastructure, power, housing and road development.
He described the projects being executed by the state government as “impressive, restorative and transformational,” noting that the administration had demonstrated a strong commitment to reversing years of infrastructural decay.
According to him, the government’s investment in strategic projects, particularly the ongoing electrification initiative in Ohafia and extensive road construction works across the state, reflects a deliberate effort to drive economic growth and improve the quality of life of residents.
Dare also cited the ongoing Abia Airport project as a model of collaboration between the Federal Government and the state government.
“The relationship between the Federal Government and the Abia State Government is commendable and people-focused. The airport project is a clear example of how both tiers of government can work together for the benefit of the people,” he said.
Earlier, Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, and Commissioner for Works, Mr. Otumchere Oti, told the delegation that the 67-kilometre Joe Irukwu Way, formerly a neglected and impassable route, was fully funded and reconstructed by the state government.
The commissioners explained that the road now connects more than 20 communities, linking agrarian and mineral-producing areas to the state capital while boosting economic activities across the region.
According to them, the road corridor has been fitted with end-to-end solar-powered streetlights and has significantly improved accessibility for residents and businesses.
They added that the Otti administration has also undertaken interventions on several federal roads within the state to ease transportation challenges in remote communities.
Speaking on the Federal Government’s housing initiative, the Commissioner for Lands, Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije, described the Renewed Hope Housing Estate project in Bende as one of the most significant federal interventions aimed at addressing housing deficits in Abia State.
Also briefing the delegation, Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr. Ikechukwu Monday, disclosed that the state government is close to restoring electricity to Ohafia communities that have remained without power supply for eight years following the vandalisation of power infrastructure.
He revealed that the government has completed a 20-kilometre 33KV electricity line from Ihechiowa in Arochukwu to Ebem in Ohafia, terminating at a newly installed 7.5MVA injection substation.
“The Ministry is currently completing the last-mile installations needed to restore electricity across the entire Ohafia Local Government Area,” Monday said.
He further disclosed that the state government was finalising arrangements to acquire a majority stake in the Abia operations of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), a move he said would help extend stable power supply to areas not currently covered by Geometric Power.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser to Governor Alex Otti on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, noted that Joe Irukwu Way had remained in a deplorable state for nearly two decades before the intervention of the current administration.
“Because the government understands the economic benefit of this road, it awarded the project to three construction companies, which worked simultaneously and delivered it in record time,” Ekeoma said.
He also described the relationship between President Bola Tinubu and Governor Otti as cordial and development-driven.
“The relationship that exists between the President and the Governor is fantastic and people-oriented. It is one of the reasons the state has enjoyed strong Federal Government support and collaboration on numerous projects,” he added.
The presidential media team, made up of editors, senior journalists, media influencers and government representatives, inspected several projects, including the 67-kilometre Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Akara-Abiriba-Ohafia Road, now renamed Joe Irukwu Way; the Renewed Hope Housing Estate along the Umuahia-Uzuakoli corridor; the 30-kilometre Ozu-Abam-Ndiokereke-Amuvi Road in Arochukwu; and the 42-kilometre Ebem-Ohafia Road.
Other projects visited included the newly completed Omenuko Bridge, the Nnenna Oti Multi-Bus Terminal in Umuahia, the Renewed Hope Housing Estate in Bende Local Government Area and the four-lane Dr. Uma Ukpai Road project being executed by the Abia State Government on behalf of the Federal Government.
The inspection tour formed part of efforts to assess the implementation of projects under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Governor Otti’s development programme in Abia State.
