Works minister inaugurates construction of two major roads in Abia

Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen,  has inaugurated the construction of the 37-kilometre Nkporo-Abiriba-Ohafia road in Abia to Osso Eda in Ebonyi, abandoned for more than 150 years.
The minister was represented at the occasion by the South-East Zonal Controller of Works, Mr Godwin Eghieye, at the boundary between Abia and Ebonyi, venue of the event.
While speaking, Onolememe assured that the project would be completed by the middle of 2014, adding that it would promote communication among the communities in the area.
The minister, who also inaugurated the 32-kilometre Ohafia-Arochukwu road in Abia, further expressed optimism that it would would promote commerce and the economic well-being of the people.
``I urge the Abia government and the people to co-operate with the contractors handling the project to ensure a timely completion,’’ he said.
In his speech, the Governor of Abia, Chief Theodore Orji, thanked the Federal Government for embarking on the project.
He said it would ease the movement of goods and people in the area upon completion.
Orji, however, expressed worry over the deplorable state of federal roads in the area.
``I will advise the minister to personally visit the state with a view to finding a solution to the problem,’’ he said.
The governor commended Sen. Uche Chukwumerije (PDP), Abia North Senatorial District, and Rep. Arua Arunsi (PDP), Ohafia/Arochukwu Federal Constituency, for complementing the state government’s development initiative.
He said the approval for the two projects was as a result of the ``robust relationship’’ between the state and the federal government.
Earlier in their speeches, Chukwumerije and Arunsi had expressed delight over the construction of the two roads, particularly the Nkporo-Abiriba-Ohafia road.
They expressed the hope that the projects would not be abandoned.
The two lawmakers noted that the people of Nkporo-Abiriba-Ohafia had suffered years of untold hardship as a result of the deplorable state of the road.
``The road was abandoned for more than 150 years and life here was like living in hamlets because our people could not have easy access to other parts of the state,’’ Arunsi said.

Source: NAN