DEEPENING THE URBAN EXPERIENCE

Protocols,

1. I would like to begin by thanking you for coming out en masse to witness the commissioning and formal reopening of this Road for public use after months of reconstruction and structural improvement works. Let me thank the Honourable Commissioner for Works, Engr. Don Otumchere Oti, and his team for effectively delivering great quality work through direct labour which not only saved the State huge sums that would have been paid to external contractors, but also enriched the competences of our crop of engineers and other technical teams at the Ministry.

2. I am quite glad that the use of direct labour in the execution of public infrastructure projects has effectively taken roots in the State. I was earlier at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Secretariat to reopen the complex which was retrofitted by direct labour successfully delivered by the technical team of the State Ministry of Lands and Housing. It is gratifying that we are effectively putting the skills and experiences of our teams in the various ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to good use by getting them actively involved in the projects that yield social and economic value to Ndi Abia. Through the committed use of direct labour in project execution, we have cut down dormancy in the technical cadre of the civil service, exposed the professionals to emerging trends in their industry and most importantly, provided them the opportunity to find career fulfilment in the civil service. On cost savings, the lowest quote from contractors for the reconstruction of this 1.3Km dual carriageway with drainage and solar street lights was N2.2b. I’m glad to confirm that we spent a little under N750m to do the same road with direct labour.

3. The Government has not only used the direct labour model to manage project costs; it has also enabled us to take on many infrastructure development projects in different parts of the state simultaneously. We are equally curbing corruption and other forms of procurement abuses by using our teams to execute public infrastructure development projects even as we steadily reinvest much of the savings in upgrading the skills of the staff, as well as the acquisition of tools that support their ability to perform more efficiently. I want to thank the technical teams across MDAs for being partners in progress with the Government, and for demonstrating that our people have all it takes to compete with the best anywhere; all they require is the opportunity to learn and grow.

4. The road we have come to commission today, in addition to being a great testament to the competence of the crop of engineers and technical officers at the State Ministry of Works, is also another pointer to our commitment to remake Umuahia the State capital into a large stretch of modern urban settlement, providing comfortable living and business spaces for individuals and families to pursue their independent aspirations and thrive. What we are witnessing today is a continuation of our determined push to expand the frontiers of opportunities in Umuahia through robust infrastructural development, the initiation of policies and programmes that improve the living conditions of the general public and other governance frameworks that attract investors who ultimately will create jobs for our teeming youth population and eventually expand the frontiers of the greater Umuahia economic ecosystem.

5. Dozie Way is an important collector road that serves many residential neighbourhoods in the outskirts of the city, creating easy access to surrounding communities from Umuahia metropolis. As the Honourable Commissioner has rightly mentioned, this road also serves to decongest traffic on the Ikot Ekpene road when there is a gridlock. It is also very useful in supporting economic activities in several community niche markets within Lodu, Ahiaeke, Umuana and Umuafai. This road will not just boost economic progress beyond the immediate precincts of the reconstruction efforts but will also lead to new investments in real estate, agriculture, hospitality and retail trade in places far and beyond. This project will spur job creation as well as improve the value of property holdings around here.

6. I want to assure that the completion and commissioning of this Project is only the first in the series of expansive road infrastructural development projects that will happen in this axis over the next 12 months. As you may be aware, preliminary stages of extensive civil engineering works are already on-going along IBB Way, and on the stretch of road leading to Ahiake from Lodu. My promise to you is that there will be multiple reconstruction activities along this corridor over the entire length of the present dry season window. We ask for your patience and understanding in the light of the inconveniences and interruptions in traffic that are bound to follow. Even then, you can also be certain that necessary mitigation measures will be in place to limit the disruptions.

7. The road construction and renovation projects on this corridor will be part of the grand development framework that has been designed to drive the rapid socio-economic transformation of our State Capital. In May this year, we successfully delivered the Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard which has given the major entrance into the City from the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway a new urban appeal. The expansion of Bank and Club Roads within the urban metropolis, and the installation of larger drainage channels, are proceeding according to plan; we are also getting very impressive report on the progress of work along the Umuahia-Uzuakoli axis which will further expand the acres of opportunities along that section of the city. Our target is to progressively change the face of the Capital City from what it was prior to May last year to a major urban location that appeals to the large civil servant population within, and many other economic actors who will be coming in to take advantage of the expanding social infrastructure to set up businesses and make the most of the abundant natural human and material resources in the Capital, and in the neighbouring towns.

8. I am not unaware of the recent surge in criminal attacks in parts of the city, targeting our security personnel and innocent civilians. I assure you that our administration is actively utilizing all available resources to track down the perpetrators. Rest assured, the law will swiftly catch up with these culprits and justice will be served. This Government is fully committed to the protection of the lives and property of every resident and business in all parts of the State. Acts of provocation by criminals will be heavily resisted because as I announced on May 29, 2023, not one inch of Abia territory shall be accommodating of anyone who is not willing to live and function within the stipulations of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

9. Beyond just making sure that those who attack and murder law abiding citizens are brought to book, we have also taken proactive steps to forestall the activities of violent criminals in Umuahia and other parts of the State. I have ordered increased patrol by security agents, vehicles and equipment have been provided to execute this and more men shall also be deployed at strategic locations to improve response time when distress signals are received. Stop-and-search operations may happen at intervals especially when security agents have their suspicions but I have also warned against any form of abuse and extortion by the officers and men. Our people should be free to go about their regular business activities without any fear of harassment. My charge to you would be to cooperate fully with the security agents by alerting them quickly on the movement of suspicious persons and activities in your neighbourhoods. Security as you know is our collective responsibility.

10. Let me conclude by reassuring you that our development paradigm is a holistic one that takes into account, every important metric used in measuring human development index including social infrastructure, education, health, social welfare, environmental sanitation, public transportation and of course, security of lives and property. We shall continue to serve you with dedication and sincerity. As law abiding citizens, we also expect that you shall cooperate with us to achieve the objectives that we seek trough prompt and regular payment of your taxes and other statutory fees, keeping your surroundings clean and refusing to be misled by the mischief and propaganda of those who hope to reap political mileage by scuttling our march to progress. My message to you is this: we shall overcome.

11. Thank you for listening and may God bless you all.

Dr Alex C. Otti, OFR,
26/11/2024