Infrastructural renewal is one of the five cardinal pillars of the present government.Gov.Okezie Ikpeazu’s Concentration on road construction shows that road construction is one of the ways Government can make the citizens feel better even in drowning economy.
The governor is moving from one road to another due to the urgent need of the people for an access to markets and businesses. Again, this sector of public life is critical to the overall socio – economic activities in the state.
Road infrastructure is a strategic road – map towards the recovery of the drowning economy. In Aba, which is the the commercial hub of the state, there is need to address the road challenges in the ancient city which is of the paramount important.
Aba provides the largest market for the entire South East and South, which also has been described as the capital SMEs in Nigeria.
The drive for infrastructural renewal and economic growth of the state will not complete without addressing the issue of roads in Aba. On that note, the Governor has been on active road construction simultaneously cutting across the three senatorial zones of the state.
The Ikpeazu road revolution has indeed turned the state into a huge construction site where caterpillars, bulldozers and other earth moving equipment are at work round the clock. This earth moving equipments are now seen at Faulks road, a road that has been neglected for ages and the governor is using high cost intensive project with streetlight and good drainage network to control the flood that makes it difficult to ply the road.
Faulks road in Aba, the commercial hub of the state, that used to be heartbreaking for residents and visitors, is now receiving a facelift.The economic impact of the road should not be taken for granted. The road serves as a link from other roads in the city to the main Ariaria International Market. The construction of the road will enable a seamless movement to and fro from the Ariaria International Market,as the road remains one of its main access and link roads. Commercial and business activities Will become intensified all to the benefits of the members of the business community and the state in general.
Ariaria International Market which is an open – market located in Aba the commercial hub of the state,is one of the largest markets in West Africa and nicknamed “China of Africa” because of it’s versertility in the making of wears and leather works. The market is the largest shoemaking cluster in Africa and is divided into over 85 zones specialising on specific articles of trade for easy shopping.
Before now, the market was not accessible because roads leading to the market were in comatose. At a point, customers from the neighbouring states abandoned the market and business was nearly grounded to a halt. The sanitary condition of the market was at its lowest ebb with substantial part suffering perennial flooding because shops were built on sanitary lanes. The situation degenerated to a point that shops designed for downstairs were converted to story – building and the fire service station in the market was converted to shops.
Unarguably, massive proliferation of shops in the market contributed immensely to the deplorable condition of the market. The situation of the market provoked Gov. Ikpeazu’s concern during his campaigns and he promised to address the neglected road.
Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu has moved with full force to address and restore the past glory of Faulks road by reconstructing the road because of its economic importance to the state and the country at large. Right now, faulks road is receiving a facelift and the economic activities in Ariaria International Market has improved. The governor is moving ahead even at this stage of dwindling oil fortune and a drop in the state’s monthly federal allocation, to retore the value of the ancient city.
Its of important to note that the completion of the reconstruction exercise will go a long way in not only making the faulks road axis and it’s environs motorable to all and sundry but will also help in the restoration of investors confidence within Abia, particularly Aba and increase the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state.
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