Governor Alex Otti commissioned the reconstruction of the 5.95-kilometre Umuahia-Onuimo Bridge Road on Wednesday.

The project begins from the Abia Tower of Peace on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway and terminates at the Onuimo Bridge (the boundary between Abia and Imo).

In a speech at the ceremony, Mr Otti said that the project was initiated to fulfill his administration’s promise to transform the entry points to the state.

“At the beginning of this administration, we made a commitment that we shall rebuild, remodel and improve the aesthetics of all the entrance points to Abia from our neighbouring states.

“Our goal is to change the old, unpleasant narrative, which gave the state a certain notoriety as a destination that announces itself through bad roads, heaps of garbage, foul air and other fatal signs of governance failure.

“We announced that in our time that, whoever is coming to our state will have an inviting experience. We promised that expansive and well-maintained road networks, good air quality and a good and tidy environment shall be the hallmark of every entry point to Abia,” he said.

Mr Otti also expressed his administration’s resolve to institute a new governance philosophy that prioritises Abia’s people and social status at the core of its undertakings.

He said the road was a federal road and thanked the Federal Government for giving the necessary approvals for the state government to fix it.

“We consider such roads critical economic enablers, supporting our domestic economy as well as improving the social condition of the citizens,” Mr Otti said.

He urged Abia people to fulfill their civic obligations by paying taxes and statutory fees to enable the government to carry out more developmental projects in the state.

Mr Otti also affirmed the government’s commitment to effectively deploy state funds in investment channels that yield huge social returns for the people.

(NAN)