Abia State governor, Alex Otti, has said the government’s commitment to building roads is informed by the need to provide an efficient road network in the state.

Mr Otti said this on Sunday at a church thanksgiving service organised by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mrs Nkiruka Onyejiocha, in the Amuda-Isuochi, Umunneochi Local Government Area.

He further affirmed the commitment of his administration to continue to initiate programmes and policies that would improve the welfare of th Abia people.

“All what we are doing in government is to ensure that people’s life gets better. So, when we are building roads, it is not a favour, we want to create access so that people can go about their business freely and smoothly,” he said.

Mr Otti commended the people of Umunneochi for their support toward the programmes and policies of his government.

He called on the Church to continue to pray for the government, adding that Abia and Nigeria would be better this time.

He said: “I want to thank the minister for remembering to thank God. Like the Bishop said, ‘it is easy to run away with your blessing, without acknowledging from where it came.’ “As you have acknowledged God and you have celebrated God in this way, celebration will never end in your house.’’

Also, Gov. Hope Uzodimma of Imo State said that the governors of the South-East were working together to alleviate the sufferings of the people.

Mr Uzodimma urged the people to support the federal and state governments to secure lives and property, which he described as the essence of governance.

“We are delighted that the awareness has become so incremental that focus is on delivering quality service in government and not based on party affiliations. When we serve our people well it means by extension we have served God, because the mind of the people is obviously the mind of God,” he said.

Mr Uzodimma also thanked God for His goodness toward the celebrant, adding that her appointment as a minister was “a testimony of her hardwork and commitment to duty.’’

Earlier, Ms Onyejiocha thanked God for His bountiful mercies over her life and for being her foundation and help over the years.

She recounted her life experiences as well as her walk with God and expressed readiness to serve at any level to make the nation great.

Ms Onyejiocha also said that the era of relegating God to the background in Abia was over as God had taken over the state and all that concerns it.

In a sermon, entitled “The power of thanksgiving,” the Bishop of Methodist Church Nigeria, Diocese of Nsukka/Ehamufu, Dr John Eze, expressed the need for humanity to always show gratitude to God.

Mr Eze said that thanksgiving provokes the power of God into action, triggers multiplication of blessings, guarantees preservation of testimonies and makes people know that God blesses.

The event was attended by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister for Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, the Minister of Trade and Commerce, Mrs Doris Uzoka, the All Progressives Congress’ National Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (retd.), among other dignitaries. (NAN)