A prominent Traditional Prime Minister in the Ukwa West Local Government Area, Chief Ogunka Adiele John has expressed his dissatisfaction over the fact that the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, who recently received in audience the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, and some of the Directors, did not mention the infrastructural decay in Ukwa; especially the poor road network to the Management of the Commission.
It should be recalled that Otti had on Friday, urged the NDDC to look into the challenges of erosion in Aba, Umuahia, Isuikwuato and Umunneochi areas, including the completion of abandoned projects. He also drew the attention of the Commission to other abandoned projects at Isiala Ngwa North, Aba, Arochukwu and Umuahia North.
In a statement on Sunday, Ogunka John wondered why the Governor did not draw specific attention of the NDDC MD to the widespread bad and dilapidated roads doting all the nooks and crannies of Ukwa West; the only oil producing Local Government Area in Abia State.
He asked, “Why would Governor Otti draw attention of the NDDC MD to abandoned roads and erosion problems in parts of the State but couldn’t say a word regarding widespread bad and dilapidated roads doting all the nooks and crannies of Ukwa West.”
His statement reads in part:
“Ukwa East and Ukwa West local governments share common boundaries with Rivers and Akwa Ibom States. Whilst our neighbors in the two States whose local Governments also produce oil enjoy topnotch quality all-seasons roads; on the contrary the roads in our area have remained impassable; thereby sentencing Ukwa people to ridicule in the eyes of the people of the neighboring states and a culture of unending suffering both economically and otherwise.
“It is true that the Abia Industrial Innovative Park, AIIP, sited in Ukwa West is a welcome development, but until we see the full effect, it’s too early to assume that it will solve all our problems. We should not forget in a hurry that Obuaku City was sited in Ukwa West and after two decades of democracy, nothing has happened there. Enyimba Economic City was also sited in Ukwa West and uptill now, it has remained a mirage.
Whilst we earnestly look forward to the full realization of AIIP, our Governor should urgently consider the construction and rehabilitation of roads in Ukwa West as top priority, same way he sees roads and erosion control projects in other places like Isiala Ngwa, Ovim and Arochukwu.”
Chief Ogunka Adiele John said road infrastructure in Ukwa West and Ukwa East is in shambles and needed urgent intervention of the State government in addition to interventions from other Agencies of government.
