Reconstruction of Faulks Road, one of the critical roads in the commercial city of Aba, began Thursday with Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, ordering the contractor to pull down any structures that stand on the way.

Flagging off the reconstruction of the 4.6km Faulks Road, which begins from Brass Junction by Aba-Owerri Road through Ukwu-Mango to Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, Ikpeazu warned that government would not brook anything which would cause delay of the work awarded to Setraco Construction Company.

Apart from the 4.6km Faulks Road, a major link road to Ariaria International Market in Aba, Setraco will also construct a 5.6km underground water channel that will collect water from Ifeobara basin near Ukwu-Mango to Aba River (waterside). The whole work would gulp N6.8 billion.

The road had defied several efforts to rebuild it; that informed why government chose Setraco to handle the rehabilitation this time around.

Ikpeazu said while performing the flag-off ceremony: “I know that previous administrations in the state made several attempts to reconstruct this road, but they failed because proper attention was never given to the Ifeobara basin.

“But this time, we have given the work to a competent company like Setraco. We know Setraco will do the job, and I will be coming personally every week to see what they're doing because this road is important to us.

“Faulks road is 4.6km and Setraco will also do another 5.6km underground water channel that will take the storm waters from Ifeobara basin to Aba River. This is a permanent solution to the problem of Ukwa-mango and the flood water along Faulks road.”

The Governor stressed that his administration would not spend such amount of money and return to the road again to carry out palliative works

He was categorical that structures standing on the land where construction work is to be done would be pulled down.

His words: “Those of you who build houses and shops on the water ways, I want to announce to you that we have asked Setraco to bring down any obstacle on their way to ensure the job is done properly.

“Let also tell our traditional rulers and youths that we will not tolerate anybody that will disrupt or disturb what we have come to here to do. This road is important to us because of Ariaria International Market. We promised you during our campaigns that we will do this road and we have come to fulfil our promise. You must help us to fix this road.”

Earlier, the Commissioner for Works, Mr Eziuche Ubani, had said that he feels for the people living in that area of the Aba because of the stress they go through during rainy seasons.

Ubani was optimistic that the road would be fixed this time around, unlike previous efforts which failed.

The Chairman, Aba North Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Love Nwogu, expressed happiness over the reconstruction of Faulk Road by the Ikpeazu regime.

Others who spoke during the occasion noted that the road has defied solution over the years and expressed gratitude to Ikpeazu for bringing a reputable firm to reconstruct the road

•Photo shows Governor Ikpeazu driving bulldozer to flag-off work on an Aba road.

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