By IHECHINYERE CHIGEMERI-UWOM

Gov. Alex Otti of Abia on Wednesday inaugurated the reconstructed 3.5 kilometer six-lane Ossah Road, rechristened Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard, Umuahia.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the road was renamed after the first Military Head of State, late Gen. Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi, who hailed from Ndume Ibeku Umuahia.

In a speech at the event held at Okpara Square, Umuahia, Otti said, “From today, this road will be named after a great Nigerian, a great Abia man, a great Ibeku man, his name is Gen. Johnson Thomas Umumnakwe Aguiyi Ironsi.

“So the street is Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard, Umuahia.”

He said that the reconstruction of the road from four lanes to six lanes commenced in September 2023.

He said that the project was embarked upon to enhance both vehicular movement and aesthetics of the capital city.

He said that he faced discouragement from different quarters, including the members of the State Executive Council, who advanced reasons that the project would not be feasible.

He said that he remained committed to his resolve to transform the entire landscape of the state capital, despite the discouragement.

“I remember when we were sworn-in, one of the first things that I wanted to do was to expand this road and make it look like an approach to the state capital.

“Unfortunately, by the time I started engaging with my colleagues, a lot of them wanted to discourage me, they said it was going to be very difficult and that the compensation to be paid was going to be huge.

“Also, that there were some people who were going to raise serious resistance to moving their properties backwards,” he said.

Otti said that the inauguration of the road had set in motion the fulfillment of his vision of making Umuahia North Local Government Area to look like a proper capital city.

He also said that the expansion of the road affected 135 buildings and that the owners of the buildings were paid compensation in full before the project commenced.

“We sat down and we identified about 135 buildings that were going to be involved in this demolition and we valued them and put everything at the table and all of them agreed that they were good value for their properties.

“So, everyone whose property was affected received 100 per cent of their compensation before the programme commenced.

“I am happy to report that rather than using Police and Army to get those buildings out, the people of Ossah actually removed their buildings themselves,” Otti said.

He thanked the residents for their support toward the successful completion of the road.

“You have been supporting not just the ministry but also Craneburg Construction Company that was working tirelessly to ensure that what we agreed was what was delivered.

“So, today, we have invited you here to be part of the epoch-making inauguration to open this road up for public use,” the governor said.

In a speech, the lawmaker representing Isiala Ngwa North and South Federal Constituency, Chief Ginger Onwusibe, said that the present administration was executing projects that could have been achieved some 24 years ago under the past governments

“We at the National Assembly are happy with you and we say that the only reward for hard work is more work,” Onwusibe said.

Also, the Commissioner for Works, Mr Otumchere Oti, said that the road stretches 3.5 km long from the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway to Okpara Square, Umuahia.

Oti said: “The pavement structure is superb, comprising 200 millimetre laterite soft base, 200 millimetre crushed stone base, 600 millimetre asphaltic concrete binder course and 40 millimeter asphaltic concrete wearing course.

“In addition, the existing drainage was demolished and the entire road lined on both sides with one meter by one meter covered concrete drains with paved drainage.

“Also, two-meter wide elevated concrete sidewalks are provided on both sides and the entire road furnished with solar street lights and roadway marking.”

He said that the rigorous engineering processes utilised in rehabilitating the road were aimed at ensuring that a quality, solid and durable road would be delivered to the residents.

In a remark, Eze Emelike Chiabuotu of Eziama Mgbaja/Ossah Autonomous Community expressed gratitude to the government for the rehabilitated road.

Chiabuotu said that this had further strengthened the trust of the people in the present administration.

The Transition Committee Chairman of Umuahia North Local Government Area, Chief Victor Ikeji, described the road as an unprecedented move towards the achievement of urban renewal and development.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the governor also commissioned the construction of the Umuahia Central Bus Terminal.

He also unveiled the rehabilitated Michael Okpara Square, which accommodates the pedestal for the statue of the late Premier of the defunct Eastern Region, Dr Michael Okpara.

NAN reports that the event was attended by the former Military Vice President, Navy Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, who formally inaugurated the road. (NAN)

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