Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has taken steps to address the severe gully erosion on Ovom Street, Aba, which has divided the street and caused widespread damage, including the collapse of several buildings.
During a site inspection on Sunday, following a church service, Governor Otti instructed the General Manager of the Greater Aba Development Authority to meet with him to mobilize experienced engineers and contractors to find a permanent solution to the problem.
The governor said, “Unfortunately, erosion has dealt a deadly blow on this area and the way it is going, if it is not controlled immediately, it would not only affect all the buildings around here but also the opposite side of the road, where we are building people’s road and we should be completing that road any moment from now.
“So, we need to come very quickly and I have given the instruction to the General Manager of Greater Aba Development Agency and he should be meeting me later this evening so that we can start solving the problem in the next few weeks.
“We are starting immediately, by the time we engage the engineers and contractors because it is not going to be done by direct labour. We need people who understand what to do. But I believe that it is something that we should deal with before the end of this year.”
Otti further revealed that he had instructed GADA to evacuate those living around there.
He elaborated ,“I had asked him to evacuate everybody living around here. So, if you look around these houses, there is nobody in there. Those who are very close here, I had already gotten them evacuated. So, I hope nobody goes back to some of these buildings because it’s very dangerous.”
Prior to the site inspection, Governor Otti attended a service at Christ Ascension Church, where he expressed gratitude for the church’s support and reaffirmed his commitment to good governance, fulfilling his campaign promises.
He shared with the congregation that his motivation for entering politics was to be a blessing to others, having already been blessed by God.
“People like us don’t normally come out to contest or show interest in politics because even if it sounded immodest, I was not looking for anything. But at some point, when God has blessed you, you need to make yourself available to be a blessing to other people. For me, that is the essence of politics.”
Rev. Jeremiah Chika Mba, the presiding pastor, led a passionate prayer session for Governor Otti, his team, and the state.
Later, Governor Otti was accompanied by a delegation, including the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, and other officials such as lawmakers, the GADA General Manager, Arch. Uche Ukeje, the Mayor of Aba North, Ide John Udeagbala, and several Senior Special Assistants to the governor, during his inspection of the erosion site.
