Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
The Abia State Governor Alex Otti has said he is keen at fixing roads leading to rural communities in the state to create an avenue for economic activities to thrive in the state.
He said good road would encourage farmers in the villages to bring their products to the major city to sale and make money.
Otti spoke on Wednesday in Umuahia the State capital during the flag off ceremony of the rehabilitation of Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Abiriba-Ohafia Road.
He said the 67 kilometers road was divided into sections and awarded to three construction firms including contractors, namely; Craneburg, Ferotex, and China Civil Engineering Construction Company will handling each of the three sections respectively.
The Governor said the decision to engage three construction firms to handle the project was to ensure the delivery of the job in record time.
He said, “All we are doing is inline with our camping promises, we ran on the mentral; ‘Weep no more help is on the way’, we are not in competition with anyone, but we want to ensure that where we today will not be where we be tomorrow.
“We trust that the management of the three construction firms will deliver a quality job in six months. But they will be Our engineers and I will always come around to ensure that what we in the contract is what they are doing.
“My charge to Umuahia, Uzuakoli, Alayi Igbere, Abiriba, Ohafia and Isuikwuato people residing outside is that they should be coming home to spend their money and weekends in their villages that is the only way our economy can grow”.
The governor urged members of the host communities where the construction is place to give constratots support to succeed.
The managing directors of the three constructions firms handling the projects vowed to abide by the terms of the contract and deliver a equality job for the people of the state.
The Commissioner for Works,Mr Otumchere Oti, said the road is to be rehabilitated into a two lane asphaltic concrete carriage way with 1.5 meter wide concrete shoulders among others
He lauded the governor for his commitment to ensuring that all nooks and crannies of the state feels the impact of government especially in the provision of road networks.