“the emergence of the Otti’s led LP government has brought in a complete overhaul of the city’s infrastructure, More so If you have ever experienced the Planet Project OTI in Lagos, you will well understand the level of SME that Gov Otti is about to establish in Umuahia at one spot.”
By Njoku SaintJerry A.
Amidst recent social media induced distractions by Abia oppositional elements struggling to regain relevance by spreading false information and causing confusion aimed at maligning the Governor Alex Otti’s led Labour party government., there is one event that will remain undisputable and that is the deliberate and ambitious attempt by Gov Otti to rebuild the old and rustic capital city of Umuahia from its rural-urban status to a model functional city with the right technology and basic infrastructure amenities that will redefine the city as ‘center of a responsible government of Abia State.’
Driving into Umuahia from the four major inroads and exit namely the Aba-Enugu Expressway driving from Ubakala towards FMC, or driving from the Abia Tower coming in froim Onu-Imo to the Newly commissioned Ossa Road that terminates at the Michael Okpara Square, and diverting towards the Government House, or coming in from the Popular Akara Junction axis driving into Umuahia or coming from Ikot Ekpene through Umudike axis driving into Umuahia, the evidence of a government that is working and committed to its promises of rebuilding the city from the rot and ruins previous administrations has left of it ,is unquestionably very visible.
While these are long existing inroads to the capital city that were abandoned for decades until its appearance began to declassify the beauty of the city to a rural setting, the emergence of the Gov Otti led Labour party government brought in a complete overhaul of the city’s infrastructure, lightning and cleaning up entire city that once wore the semblance of a captured community in the hands of irresponsible bands of political leeches.
Among all the ongoing construction projects sited in Umuahia, there will be none as ambitious as the Project Planet’s Umuahia Transport Hub, a replica of what you have in the mega city of Lagos, The Oshodi Transport Interchange (OTI) constructed by Planet Projects Limited during the administration of ex Gov Akinwunmi Ambode, another visionary leader.
If you have visited the OTI in Lagos either by day or by night and experience the existence of a thriving transit hub leading to every corner of Lagos, you will well understand the level of SME that Gov Otti is about to establish in Umuahia at one spot. Virtually everything related to commerce and entertainment happens at the Central Transport Hub and most importantly would be the dismantling of the ubiquitous disorganized motor parks that has only contributed in destroying the original aesthetics of organized transport system in a any model capital city.
This is a feat no governor in Abia state since 1999 democratic dispensation has ever dared even when the ex Gov. T.A. Orji brought the idea of moving the signature market of ‘Isi gate’ to the interior ‘Ubani Market’ with the thought of expanding the capital city, it only ended up in creating more chaos and misery for the city dwellers and their businesses.
No doubt the Umuahia Mega Transport Terminal will be huge and worthy of whatsoever fanfare and excitement attached to it, “A government that is worth its name; should focus on the welfare of the people, and that is what we promised you” said Gov Otti, during an impromptu site inspection visit, the Governor reiterated his stance in rebuilding the city to attract more business and visitors.
He added that a lot of businesses will move in here because there is provision for hotels, shopping plazas, playgrounds, entertainment centers etc. when the project is finally commissioned in no distant time.
This is an open invitation to Abia state indigenes and every Nigerians fleeing hostile business regions across the country to key in to the opportunities many of these virgin projects are bringing into the region as Abia continue to offer an environment considered as one of the most peaceful regions in Nigeria to reside and do business
According to the governor, “Exactly what they did in Oshodi, Lagos is what we want to replicate here; the railway, the buses, everything will terminate here, shopping centers, Hotels, just where people can come, meet, and have fun” and I add that, there is no place with such nouveau ambitious projects without the requisite attraction of visitors, businesses and customers giving boost to the economy and aesthetics of the old rustic Umuahia that is continuously undergoing an upgrade to a model capital city, a legacy that will long outlive the Otti’s administration as the founding father of the New Umuahia capital city
Njoku SaintJerry A is an Ambassador, State of African Diaspora (SOAD) Nigeria, He writes from Umuahia
