Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has used the occasion of the celebration of Nigeria's 55th Independence Anniversary to explain why his administration embarked on massive road construction in the rainy season, saying that the goal was to eas the suffering of Abians.

In his state-wide broadcast to Abians to the Independence anniversary yesterday, Ikpeazu said he was pained by the suffering of the people.

The governor said: “My beloved Abians, I am aware that you are currently undergoing different forms of hardships; from the difficult traffic situation in Aba to the poor state of access roads inside the Ariaria International Market and other markets.

“Whatever challenges any Abian is currently facing, I, as your Governor, express my deepest concern and assure you that I share in your pain.

“My team and I are working round the clock to ensure that we resolve most of these challenges confronting our people.”

Ikpeazu explained that it was due to his resolve to alleviate theses sufferings that his administration embarked on provision of infrastructure, especially road construction even in this rainy season.

“It is for this reason that we embarked on a massive reconstruction of existing roads in the State and building new ones to create alternative outlets that will ease the pressure on the roads currently in use and create options for road users.”

“Ordinarily, it is expensive and logistically challenging to build roads during the rainy season but due to the extent of suffering our people is going through, we cannot wait for the dry season before we commence work on our roads.”

But he also pointed out that constructing the roads has its own advantages. “Again, working during this rainy season has helped us determine the direction of flow of rainwater which will in the long run help the integrity of the roads we are building,” the governor said, adding: “Most importantly, our massive drainage desilting exercise has saved Abia State from calamity... I dare say that if we had not embarked on our construction activities and opened our drains, Abia State would have been a victim of flooding due to the sheer quantity of rain that fell this year.”

He pleaded for the understanding of the people experiencing one hardship or another, especially as a result of the ongoing roads construction and reminded them “that it gets darkest shortly before the break of dawn,” assuring: “The day is about to break. A new dawn is in the horizon and in a very short while, you will witness the manifestation of the work we have been doing.”

The governor used the opportunity of the broadcast to inform Abians that his administration has received N14.15 billion bailout fund from the Central Bank and assured that the money would strictly be used to clear the arrears of salaries owed workers in the state.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria approved N14.15 billion for Abia State for this purpose. I have since set up a committee to manage these funds and ensure that it is judiciously utilised for the purpose for which it was requested. I wish to reiterate my charge to the members of the Bailout Committee to ensure that by Friday, October 30, 2015, all outstanding Salaries and Pensions in Abia State have been defrayed. I wish to state that contrary to the fears expressed in some quarters, the setting up of the committee to manage the disbursement of the funds does not have any ulterior consideration.”

Ikpeazu extolled the patriots who fought for Nigeria’s independence and called on Nigerians to support the present administration in its efforts to pilot the affairs of the country.

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