What A Deliberate Deceit And Frustration On Ariaria-Umuiku-Isi-Asa Road Construction By ‘New Abia State Government’?
Tuesday (Eke) 28-10-2025.
For the umpteenth time, let it be stated that Ariaria-Umuiku-Isi-Asa Road is a major Road that holds a lot of economic fortunes for the Economy Abia State.
It is a Road through which traders in Omuma, Etche, Ikwerre, Ahoada Local Government Areas, all in Rivers State, and many parts of Bayelsa State access Ariaria International Market at Aba, in Abia State.
Both Bayelsa and Rivers States’ Governments, knowing the economic importance of that Road, have long constructed their respective sections of the Road with Nylon Tar.
During what is now experienced as short annual dry season(s), occasioned by climate change, the haulage on that Road propelled by traders from both Rivers and Bayelsa States is enormous.
Regrettably, the Abia end of the Road is in a very dilapidated state and can not facilitate any vehicular traffic. Yet, it is the shortest in terms of distance and best in topography.
A former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State, Sir Don Ubani who hails from there, while still in Government, made use of his personal resources to effect good grading of the Road, and that boosted traffic on the Road, impacting gainfully on the commercial value of Ariaria International Market.
It was a thing of great joy to residents of many Abia communities living along and within that Road when it was announced that the ‘New Abia State Government’ had awarded contract for the construction of Ariaria Express Road Junction to Umuiku-Isi-Asa Road in December 2023.
It is about 22 months, two years less than two years, since the Peoples’ joy was ignited by the ‘New Abia State Government’ yet nothing has visibly been done on that Road. There is unimaginable misery on residents along that Road.
Any Government that deliberately chooses to run a deceitful agenda against the masses, relying on false propaganda, does so at its own detriment.
Equity Global Reporters Ltd wishes to advise the ‘New Abia State Government’ to live above the pettiness of covertly frustrating the implementation of any Road contract based on the myopic emotions that a ‘Prominent Political Opponent’ will benefit from the Road if constructed and delivered.
For goodness sake, let the ‘New Abia State Government’ be altruistically concerned about the social cum economic importance of any Road, than placing emphasis on political differences that can only end up stagnating and hindering the development and progress of God’s Own State.
Sir Don Ubani; KSC, JP,
Okwubunka of Asa and Okeamadi Gburugburu, is a former Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Abia State, and, currently, Publisher of Equity Global Reporters Ltd.
