Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, approved the reconstruction of the long-abandoned Omenuko Bridge at Ozuabam in the Arochukwu Local Government Area of the state.
The bridge, a vital link between the Abia North and Abia Central Senatorial Zones, has been a safety hazard for decades.
Its narrow, deteriorating structure has limited traffic to one vehicle at a time, with the situation worsening during the rainy season as floodwaters often submerge the bridge, which sits precariously at the base of a hill and a sharp bend.
Tragically, the dilapidated bridge has claimed several lives, including students traveling for JAMB examinations.
The State Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed the development during a press briefing at the Government House in Umuahia after this week’s State Executive Council meeting, presided over by Governor Otti.
Kanu stated, “For decades, a lot of politicians have taken undue advantage of the rickety nature of that bridge to make promises to people around that area, but till date, they have never fulfilled them.
His Excellency, Dr. Alex Otti, has ordered that the bridge be reconstructed to serve the people from that area.”
He added that the project’s flag-off date would be announced soon, emphasizing that the reconstruction would significantly benefit residents and commuters.
In a related development, the commissioner revealed that the state government had forwarded the “Abia State Electricity Bill” to the State House of Assembly for consideration, aiming to secure independent power supply for the state.
Kanu noted that a public hearing on the bill would be held on December 18, 2024, urging critical stakeholders to participate and contribute to the legislative process.
“All the critical stakeholders are expected to be there and make inputs on how to enact the bill and come up with a robust idea that will address electricity issues in our state,” Kanu said.
Commenting on the benefits of the proposed law, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr. Ikechukwu Monday, highlighted that the bill would serve as a catalyst to achieving Governor Otti’s vision of providing access to electricity for all Abians.
