Abia Govt Denies Allegation Of Washed Off Newly Constructed Road In Aba

Abia State Government says there is no truth in a recently circulating video on social media that storm water washed off one of the new roads recently constructed by the administration of Governor Alex Otti.

The Commissioner for Works, Abia State, Engr. Don Otumchere Oti, stated this while inspecting the ongoing reconstruction of Pepples Road and other roads in Aba.

Engr. Oti, who conducted journalists round some of the project sites in Aba, said that no section of the Pepples Road, which is still under construction, was washed off by rain water.

The Commissioner explained that the section of the road work affected by storm water was only the part where loose stone base was laid without protection.

“As you can see, the road was not washed off. The area impacted by the storm water is the section that has not been protected. Even at that you can see the road standing solidly. We have gone round and we have taken note of some aspects of the work to improve upon to further protect the road.

“We just had stone base on the road and you know this is a loose material and if you have this loose material and there is a flood on it, what do you expect that would happen? The flood would carry the material. So, the road is still under construction.

“When you look at the road, you can see that the flood is coming from the right hand side, and I have just seen that the catchment area of the drain that is servicing this area is very large. So we will address the issue and make sure that this kind of thing doesn’t happen again.

“I am here to inspect it personally and to see whether there is anything necessary for us to do to make sure this doesn’t occur again. Obviously we have seen it and we are going to apply necessary remedial measures to ensure that in future, we don’t have this kind of problem. But of course, the problem would not have arisen if the road had been completed.

“This is just a loose material. It’s not protected. By the time we complete the road and ensure that all the sections are protected this kind of thing cannot happen,” the Commissioner enuntiated.

Engr. Oti, who traced the problem of the flooding to the large catchment area of the access, assured of measures by the state government to ensure the road was properly done.

According to the Commissioner, “The catchment area of this road is very large. The water that is coming from the right hand side is carrying a lot of rubbish to this place. If you look at the right hand side, you will see all the things the flood is bringing from various places. So, it is another thing we need to watch.”

He described as unfortunate the attitude of some individuals who are alleging that the road had been washed off, saying that they obviously never knew how terrible the experience of the residents was before Governor Otti directed that the road be reconstructed.

KAZIE UKO
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
Abia State
Government House, Umuahia
April 23, 2024.