Contractors handling various road projects in Abia State has been directed to immediately return to site taking advantage of the 5 months dry season window to complete as many ongoing projects as possible.
The directive was part of the resolution at the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting on Friday, 13th November, 2020, which was chaired by Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu.
In release made available to ABIA ONLINE, the Council gave the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing until 23rd of November, 2020 to mobilize contractors handling federal road projects in the State back to site or the State Government will take over the projects to end the hardship being faced by commuters because of the current state of the roads.
Information Commissioner, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, in the release named the affected federal roads to include: Aba-Ikot Ekpene Road, Aba, Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road, Umuahia, Osisioma-Asa Nnentu segment of Enugu-Port Harcourt Highway, Bende-Ohafia Road, Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Ohafia-Arochukwu Road, Asa Nnentu-Oyigbo segment of Enugu-Port Harcourt Highway.
The Council mandated the Ministry of Trade and Investment to developed a new market round Imo Bridge along Enugu-Port Harcourt Highway in Ukwa West LGA and approved the acquisition of 3-hectares of land by the Ministry of Land and Survey for the development of the new market cluster in Obuaku, Ukwa West LGA.
Other resolutions include procurement of 20 new Innoson brand patrol vehicles for security agencies in the State to replace those destroyed during the hijacked #EndSARS protest as well as improve the speedy response capacity of the agencies
According to the Information boss, the following road projects are to be completed before the 15th of December, 2020. They are: Aba-Owerri Road, Aba, Osisioma Flyover, Aba, Ururuka Road, Aba, Osusu Road, Aba, Milverton Road, Aba, Re-asphalting of Uchenna Bus Stop to Shopprite segment of Aba Road, Umuahia as well as Palliative work along Umuahia-Ohafia federal road.
The release warned that no government property destroyed during the local government electioneering process will be restored with government funds and those involved must be identified and prosecuted by security agents.