Tinubu’s Media Aide Hails Otti’s Infrastructure Drive, Describes Abia’s Transformation As Impressive

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Mr Sunday Dare, has described the ongoing transformation in Abia State under the Governor Alex Otti administration as “impressive”, following an inspection tour of key federal and state government projects across the state.

Mr Dare, who alongside the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, led members of the Renewed Hope Presidential Media Team on the tour,
said the pace of infrastructure development under Governor Otti administration, has positioned Abia as one of the states witnessing remarkable progress in critical sectors.

The delegation, comprising editors, senior journalists, media influencers and representatives of the Federal Government, visited several projects being executed under both the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu and the Abia State Government.

Speaking after the inspection, Mr. Dare said he was really impressed by the scale of transformation taking place in Abia State within three years of the Otti administration.

The Presidential aide particularly commended the state’s investment in critical infrastructure, including the electrification project in Ohafia and ongoing road construction works across the State.

According to him, the state had for many years lagged behind in infrastructure development, noting that the current administration has demonstrated a commitment to reversing the trend.

“Impressive, really impressive to see that a state like Abia is experiencing this kind of transformation. From road construction, transportation, of course, housing and other facilities under the span of three years under Dr Alex Otti.

“I think that for Abia, even the electrification project that we saw, 33 kilometres on the Ohafia stretch, the governor is touching on the critical infrastructure necessary for a state like Abia.

“We know that in the past years, Abia has not recognised the kind of advancement needed in terms of infrastructure. Now you have a governor who is touching on the basics, who is working with stakeholders, who although is in Labour Party but is also working with the Federal Government.

“In three years, the vision is clear. You can see the template of development. It covers various sectors, human capital development and solid infrastructure. So, it’s impressive”, he said.

Mr Dare who cited the ongoing Abia Airport project as an example of effective collaboration between the Federal and State Governments, described the relationship between the two tiers of government as commendable.

“We see the airport project going on between the Federal Government and the State Government. So, when it comes to governance, it’s about collaboration. When it comes to development of your people, it doesn’t essentially have to wear party colours.

“Because when you play too much party politics, development suffers and your people suffer. The collaboration between the state and the Federal Government is impressive”, he said.

Among the projects inspected were the 67-kilometre Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Akara-Alayi Road, renamed Joe Orukwu Way; the Renewed Hope Housing Estate in Umuahia; the 30-kilometre Ozu-Abam-Ndiokereke-Amuvi Road in Arochukwu; and the 42-kilometre Ebem-Ohafia Road.

The delegation also visited the newly constructed Omenuko Bridge, the Renewed Hope Housing Estate at Onu-Inyang in Bende Local Government Area, which is currently under construction, the Nnenna Oti Multi Modal Bus Terminal Umuahia as well as the four-lane Dr Uma Ukpai Road project, a Federal Government project executed by the Otti led administration.

Earlier, while conducting the team round projects sites, the Commissioner for Information , Prince Okey Kanu and his Works counterpart, Engr. Otumchere Oti, said the 67-kilometre Joe Irukwu Way, which was hitherto impassable, was entirely funded and constructed by the state government and has significantly improved connectivity across more than 20 communities.

They noted that the road links numerous agrarian communities and mineral-producing areas to the state capital and is equipped with streetlights from end to end adding that the state government has also intervened on several federal roads in the state, to improve accessibility to remote communities.

The Commissioner for Lands, Mr Chaka Chukwumerije, highlighted the significance of the Federal Housing Authority’s Renewed Hope Housing Estate project in Bende, describing it as one of the key federal interventions aimed at addressing housing needs in the state.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr Ikechukwu Monday, said the state government was on the verge of restoring electricity to Ohafia communities that had been without power for eight years due to vandalism.

He said the state government had completed a 20-kilometre, 33KV power line from Ihechiowa in Arochukwu to Ebem, Ohafia, terminating at a newly installed 7.5MVA injection substation adding that the Ministry is currently finishing the last-mile installations to restore power supply to the whole of Ohafia Local Government Area.

Mr Monday further disclosed that the state government is close to finalising a transaction to acquire a majority stake in the Abia operations of the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC), which he said would enable the government to extend stable electricity to the remaining local government areas not covered by Geometric Power.

In his contribution, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, said the Joe Irukwu Way had been in a state of decay and near abandonment for almost two decades before the present administration intervened.

“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”, he said.

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