Otti Flags Off Reconstruction Of Two Major Roads In Aba After Over Two Decades Of Neglect
Abia State Governor Alex Otti has flagged off the reconstruction of Uratta Road and Old Express Road in Aba, as part of efforts to restore critical infrastructure and boost commercial activities in the state’s major industrial city.
The projects, which were scheduled for formal flag-off on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, had already commenced, according to a statement issued by the governor’s media aide, Ferdinand Ekeoma.
The two roads are vital to Aba’s commercial and industrial activities, but their deteriorating condition has disrupted transportation, hindered business operations and restricted access to several residential communities for more than two decades.
Ekeoma said the roads had suffered neglect for over 24 years, leaving some sections impassable and forcing residents, traders and business owners to endure difficult transportation conditions.
According to the statement, Uratta Road connects more than 100 adjoining streets to Port Harcourt Road, making it an important route for residents, traders and small-scale manufacturers who rely on it to access their businesses and transport goods.
However, the road’s poor condition, characterised by waterlogging and overgrown weeds, has discouraged commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators from using it, further worsening transportation challenges in the area.
Similarly, the deteriorated state of Old Express Road has forced heavy-duty truck operators, fabric merchants, spare-parts dealers and other business owners to take longer alternative routes, increasing transportation costs and reducing productivity.
Government targets economic recovery
The Abia State Government said the reconstruction projects form part of its broader infrastructure renewal programme aimed at restoring Aba’s commercial strength and improving connectivity across the city.
Aba is one of southeastern Nigeria’s major commercial hubs, with numerous manufacturing clusters, markets and small and medium-sized enterprises that depend on efficient road networks to transport raw materials and distribute finished products.
The government expressed optimism that rehabilitating the roads would improve access to markets, reduce transportation expenses, facilitate the movement of goods and create a more conducive environment for businesses operating along the affected corridors.
Ekeoma cited the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road as an example of the administration’s ongoing infrastructure interventions, claiming that the improved road network had encouraged shops to reopen, attracted manufacturing activities and increased property rents along the corridor.
The statement, however, did not provide independent data to substantiate the claims.
The government added that the Uratta Road and Old Express Road projects would complement ongoing interventions on Ohanku and Obohia roads, as part of efforts to improve road connectivity and ease movement within Aba.
Projects to feature drainage, streetlights
Beyond road rehabilitation, the administration said the projects would incorporate drainage systems, solar-powered streetlights and pedestrian walkways to improve safety, accessibility and resilience against flooding.
Ekeoma noted that Governor Otti considers infrastructure development a key economic strategy, stressing that functional roads would enable businesses to operate more efficiently, support commercial expansion and create employment opportunities.
He also recalled the governor’s remarks at an earlier church event, where Otti indicated that his administration was gradually shifting attention from basic infrastructure renewal towards other critical sectors, including healthcare, education, technology and industrialisation.
The reconstruction projects underscore the state government’s efforts to address longstanding infrastructure challenges in Aba, with the expectation that improved road networks would strengthen commercial activities and contribute to broader economic development across Abia State.
