Ohanaeze urges Nigerian govt to rehabilitate Owerri-Aba Expressway

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the leading Igbo socio-cultural organization, has called on the Federal Government to urgently rehabilitate and reconstruct the Owerri-Aba Expressway. The group praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Minister of Works David Umahi for their efforts on the First Niger Bridge and other federal road projects.

However, they expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of the Owerri-Aba corridor, which connects Owerri, an administrative and transportation hub, to Aba, a major commercial and manufacturing center in the South-East. The organization stated that the highway is crucial for transporting goods, produce, and passengers, as well as supporting various economic activities and tourism.

Deterioration of the road leads to increased vehicle maintenance costs, longer travel times, higher logistics expenses, and safety risks. Ohanaeze urged Umahi to conduct an on-site inspection of the Owerri-Aba Expressway and address sections requiring emergency repairs, rehabilitation, drainage correction, pavement reconstruction, and safety measures.

They emphasized the strategic importance of the highway and commended the government's intervention on the First Niger Bridge, which had been closed for emergency repairs. The group advocated for prompt technical assessments, proper supervision, and preventive maintenance of critical infrastructure, urging the government to apply the same urgency to the Owerri-Aba Expressway.