- FG hands over federal roads to Abia Government.
- Umahi praises Otti’s commitment to completing road projects.
- Handover aims to speed up road construction in the South-East.
- Stakeholders say the move will boost economic growth in Abia.
The Federal Government has transferred control of four major federal roads in Abia State to Governor Alex Otti after the governor requested approval to complete them using state funds. The roads include the Owerri–Umuaka Road, Onuigbo–Umuahia Road, Omezuo Bridge, and the Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road, all of which had been left unfinished for years due to funding setbacks.
Works Minister Dave Umahi, who performed the handover during a ceremony in Aba, said the decision reflects the Tinubu administration’s resolve to strengthen road infrastructure nationwide and eliminate unnecessary delays caused by bureaucratic bottlenecks. He praised Governor Otti for prioritizing the needs of residents over politics, calling him “a leader who does not wait for instructions before fixing what affects his people.”
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Umahi also encouraged other governors to adopt the same approach and take ownership of abandoned federal road projects to speed up development rather than leaving citizens stranded.
The Minister revealed that many of the affected roads had suffered years of stalled funding, which slowed progress. He appealed to residents of Abia and the South-East to support President Tinubu, noting that multiple key federal appointments and ongoing road projects in the region show the government’s recognition of the zone.
Responding, Governor Otti said completing the federal roads is in the best interest of Abia residents, as the state cannot afford to wait while people suffer from bad roads. He explained that Abia had intervened in federal infrastructure projects in the past and would continue to do so when necessary.
Stakeholders, including community leaders and business groups, hailed the collaboration, describing it as a game-changer that will improve movement of people, goods, and services across Abia and neighbouring states.
Earlier in the day, Umahi toured construction areas on the Enugu–Port Harcourt road project alongside Otti and members of the National Assembly. He warned contractors over slow progress and substandard work, ordering Arab Contractors to complete the remaining portion of the Umuahia–Aba section within one month or face sanctions.
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Some sections of the Enugu–Port Harcourt road have now been reassigned to a new contractor, Trucret Nigeria Limited, under emergency repairs, while others remain with the previous contractor.
According to Umahi, the completed expressway will expand into an eight-lane superhighway, easing traffic flow between Aba and Port Harcourt and boosting economic activities linked to the seaport, refinery, petrochemical facilities, and industrial hubs along the corridor.
