Otti to Flag Off Uratta, Old Express Road Reconstruction in Aba

Abia State Governor Alex Otti is set to formally flag off the reconstruction of Uratta Road and Old Express Road in Aba, as his administration moves to improve access to residential communities, markets and industrial areas affected by years of road deterioration.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the governor’s media aide, Ferdinand Ekeoma, construction work had already commenced ahead of the scheduled flag-off ceremony.

The state government said the two roads had suffered neglect for more than 24 years, leaving sections in poor condition and making transportation difficult for residents, traders and business owners. The routes are considered important to Aba’s commercial and industrial activities.

Uratta Road connects several adjoining streets to Port Harcourt Road and provides access to more than 100 connecting streets, according to the statement. Its deteriorated condition has affected residents, traders and small-scale manufacturers who rely on the road to reach their homes and businesses. The government also said waterlogging and overgrown weeds had discouraged commercial motorcycle and tricycle operators from using parts of the route.

Old Express Road, which serves Aba’s industrial layout, has also become difficult to navigate. The government said heavy-duty truck operators, fabric merchants, spare-parts dealers and other businesses had been forced to take longer routes, increasing transportation costs and disrupting commercial activities.

The administration said the reconstruction projects were part of its broader plan to restore Aba’s infrastructure and strengthen the city’s economic base. Aba is a major commercial centre in southeastern Nigeria, with markets, manufacturing clusters and small and medium-sized enterprises that depend on reliable road networks to transport goods and raw materials.

According to the government, the projects are expected to improve market access, ease the movement of goods, reduce transportation difficulties and support businesses along the affected corridors. They will complement other road interventions in the city, including projects on Ohanku and Obohia roads.

The state government also said its infrastructure programme includes drainage systems, solar-powered streetlights and pedestrian walkways, which are intended to improve road safety, accessibility and flood resilience. Ekeoma cited the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road as an example of the administration’s efforts, claiming that improved access had encouraged shops to reopen and attracted business activity. However, the statement did not provide independent data to substantiate those claims.

Otti’s administration has placed road rehabilitation and public infrastructure at the centre of its economic recovery agenda, arguing that better transport links can help businesses operate more efficiently and support job creation. The planned flag-off of Uratta Road and Old Express Road marks another step in that programme, although the government’s published statement did not specify the projects’ completion dates or total costs.