President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is scheduled to visit Abia State on May 23, during which he will officially commission the rebuilt 6.5-kilometre Port Harcourt Road in Aba, a long-neglected infrastructure that has now been fully reconstructed under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti. The road had been in a deteriorated condition for over 15 years before the current administration stepped in.
This announcement was made by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, during an inspection tour of the Osisioma segment of the 56-kilometre Abia Tower of Peace to Rail Flyover stretch of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway. This federal infrastructure is distinct from the state-managed road project but equally significant.
Umahi expressed satisfaction with the Port Harcourt Road rehabilitation, noting that the long-abandoned roadway in Aba has now been revitalized by the state and is ready for presidential commissioning. He praised the quality of the job executed and applauded Governor Otti for successfully delivering the project.
“Governor Otti is my relation, and excellence in governance runs in our family. So, I’m not surprised by the quality of his performance. In fact, I would have been surprised if he wasn’t doing well,” Umahi remarked.
Regarding the approximately two-kilometre damage observed at Osisioma, allegedly caused by the contractor working on an underground drainage system for the Abia State Government, the Minister ordered the Controller of Works in the state to halt the project immediately. He further instructed that the contractor be reported to the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja for a formal review and resolution.
Umahi also promised to have a private meeting with Governor Otti to deliberate on an amicable solution to the Osisioma issue, ensuring that all necessary measures are taken to resolve the matter effectively.
Additionally, the Minister provided an update on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, a federal road whose reconstruction began in 2013. According to him, the project is expected to reach completion by November this year and will subsequently be inaugurated by President Tinubu.
