Alex Otti, the governor of Abia State, has officially started work on a six-lane road project in Umuahia with the goal of promoting growth in the state’s capital.
This is happening even as demolition of structures indicated along the route of the proposed road has started.
Otti noted in his speech at the project’s inauguration that the enlargement of the road was part of his administration’s ambition to make the state’s capital city a modern town.
He emphasised how, once finished, the road will give the Abia capital a new look and increase its charm.
Otti said some people begged to be permitted to exhume and re-bury their deceased relatives as he highlighted some difficulties he ran into when conceptualising the idea.
He told the Abians that the owners of the 130 buildings that were scheduled for demolition had already received compensation.
In his statement, Eze Emelike Chiabuotu of the Ossah community praised the governor for starting work on a significant road project from his kingdom and claimed that when it was finished, the project will revolutionise his village.
Bulldozers from the Abia State Ministry of Works in Umuahia and employees of the Umuahia Capital Development Authority, UCDA, have meanwhile swung into action and started demolishing the buildings the Ministry of Works had indicated.
Affected property owners scurried to recover treasures from the collapsed homes as the demolition team, which began its work at Okigwe Motor Park next to Michael Okpara Square, brought down buildings with heavy machinery.
As the bulldozers trampled on their properties, some of the property owners, particularly those at Okigwe Motor Park, were seen sobbing.
