Governor Alex Otti Commissions 19.1km Rural Road Rehabilitation

Alex Otti, Abia State Governor, commissioned the repair of the 19.1-kilometer Itungwa-Mgboko-Amaise-Amairi-Omoba-Ahiaba-Nkwo-Elechi road.

Otti said at the ceremony in Omoba, Isiala Ngwa South LGA that he wants to transform the rural economy in Abia by improving roads.

The governor said the project is supported by the World Bank as part of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) and is in the pilot phase in the state.

He said…

“I am also excited to announce that we have since paid the N600 million counterpart funding for RAAMP.

“I have also approved the release of additional N2.6 billion to facilitate effective project execution and cut down incidences of delays over the entire project cycle.”

According to Otti, the government made the Rural Access Road Agency to keep up with rural road maintenance and they’re also planning to set up the State Road Fund to raise funds for timely maintenance of roads to sustain the expected benefits of RAAMP.

Aminu Mohammed, the National Coordinator of RAAMP, said this project is a way to move forward and help rural communities thrive.

Mohammed, through Vivian Amadi, the National Communications Officer of RAAMP, said that they are determined to change lives and make agriculture better.

He said the government is dedicated to solving rural infrastructure problems, working with the World Bank, the French Development Agency, and other important stakeholders.

Mohammed said that RAAMP is all about fixing country roads, improving transportation and making it easier to get to markets.

Blessing Felix, the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, said the road will really help the LGAs grow.

The contractor, Christian Soroibe, said they’re aiming to finish the project in 12 months, even though it was supposed to take 18 months.

“We have a large deployment of equipment and manpower to ensure that this project is delivered in record time.

“We are assuring the general public of a great quality of work,” Soroibe said.

The Transition Committee Chairmen of both LGAs, Eric Egwuibe and Mr Elelenta Elele, said in their speeches that the road would help their area’s economic development.

They assured the contractor of their support to ensure a seamless execution of the project.

In an interview, the President of Cooperative Motor Union, Chukwuma Azodo, said the road would make it easier to drive around once it’s done.

He said, “This project will support our business as commercial drivers and we are giving the governor 100 per cent support.”