How Umahi
Turned Ebonyi into a Huge Construction Site
By Eze Monica. C. Ada
Intro.
“Well,
I cannot in all honesty understand how these works have been achieved within
this short time and, indeed, in the climate of dire economic shortages of
government. I am impressed that you were able to do these works within the cost
you mentioned. I can, in all honesty, tell you that the work is far beyond the
cost. Now, this is a standard for other states and the Federal Government to
emulate. To me, Governor Umahi is one of the few persons who believe that
meagre resources could be used to achieve much, if we remove greed, which
breeds corruption. Without mincing words, Umahi, is better than some governors
in my own party, the APC.”
Engr. Babachir Lawal, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC) and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), made
the above statement during his one-day working visit to Ebonyi State, during
which he inspected and commissioned some projects undertaken by the
17-month-old administration of the governor, Chief David Nweze Umahi, a Fellow
of the Nigerian Society of Engineers. The SGF inspected two dual carriageway
fly-overs at the African Trans-Sahara Highway currently under construction,
after which he commissioned the Governors’ Lodge, named after the first
civilian governor of the state, Senator Sam Egwu, as well as the CBN Road at
the Centenary City, Abakaliki.
Not minding that I am a daughter of Ebonyi State, I must confess that I became
a proud daughter after reading this historical statement made by a notable
official of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration and patriotic Nigerian,
on my uncle, Governor Umahi, who has proved that he was committed to taking
Ebonyi to the next level. My interest to investigate the veracity or otherwise
of the statement credited to the SGF and APC chieftain gave birth to this
article.
Please, read on and pass judgment, as you deem fit.
Umahi’s Mission Statement
Our mission is to enhance the welfare of our people, and empower all Ebonyians
to be self-reliant, through the compassionate delivery of transparent and
God-fearing governance, based on integrity and dignity.
Ebonyi’s Core
Values
“In this administration, everything I do must reflect my covenant with God,
which he gave to me by himself, namely:-
1. To serve Ebonyi State with the fear of God
2. To prosper Ebonyi State with the word of God
3. To make Ebonyi State the number one economy in the whole
country
4. To passionately help the widows and the oppressed
5. To build a befitting place of worship like Solomon did,
so that any Ebonyian that is faced with any difficulty anywhere in the world
and turns to the direction of the temple, and calls upon the name of the Lord,
God will answer such prayers.”
Works
Commissioner a Round Peg in A Round Hole
Engr Nweze Fidelis Kings (MNSE), was on July 3, 2015 appointed into the State
Executive Council and designated the Honourable Commissioner for Works &
Transport, by His Excellency David Umahi (FNSE, FNATE, FCAI).This great son of
Ebonyi was charged with the enormous responsibilities of coordinating the
activities of the ministry, and implementing the bulk of the policy thrust of
this present administration. A notable workaholic and a seasoned administrator,
he is the tool in the hands of the executive governor in the ongoing
revolution, which has gradually turned the state into a huge construction site.
The commissioner delights and takes pleasure in ensuring that high-quality jobs
are delivered before stipulated time frame. This energetic and committed leader
visits up to five construction sites in different locations within the morning
hours, before he resumes in the office at 9.am, and still inspects more before close of
work daily. An astute administrator, Engr Kings is a humble man full of zeal,
and with a lion’s heart.
The success story of the Ministry of Works and Transport is traced to the
leadership’s trust and total commitment to God, who inspired the governor to
appoint a man who has the fear of God to pilot the affairs of the core
ministry. Within the first month of his appointment, the honourable
commissioner renovated an old building in the ministry and converted same to a
befitting Chapel, for compulsory weekly prayers and thanksgiving by all the
staff and other occupants of the ministry’s premises. During Special Quarterly
Thanksgiving Services, the proceeds are used to reach out to prisoners,
Motherless Baby’s Home, Old People’s Home and hospitals, where bills of
indigent patients (who cannot afford their bills) are settled, and affected
patients discharged.
The Umahi administration is generally anchored on a divine mandate, equity,
love and unity of all Ebonyi people – irrespective of political, ethnic and
religious affiliations - through equal distribution of road infrastructure in
all the zones of the state. We are confident to get to our desired destination
of being the number one state in the country.
Below is a comprehensive list of completed and ongoing projects in all the
three senatorial zones, and Abakaliki, the state capital.
Genesis of Ebonyi As Huge Construction Site
To actualise its noble objective of zero tolerance for dusty roads all-around
the state capital and in the hinterlands, the state government under the
leadership of Engr Umahi, procured equipment for road construction,
reconstruction and maintenance of roads in both urban and rural areas in the
state. In addition to the construction equipment, the government also procured
pick-up vans as project vehicles, to facilitate speedy service delivery in the
ministry.
The Ministry of Works and Transport, saddled with the responsibility of massive
road construction, has since inception of this administration embarked on
reconstruction of dilapidated roads in the urban areas. The success story so
far is there for all to judge.
On December 3, 2015, Umahi flagged off the construction of
some rural roads in the three senatorial zones, in addition to the 50-kilometre
roads within the urban area, which he had earlier flagged off on December 1,
2015. These roads include: Amasiri–Uburu –Okposi Road for Ebonyi South;
Nkalagu–Ehamufu Road for Ebonyi Central; Hill-top –Nwofe Road for Ebonyi North.
This is in fulfillment of his campaign promises of running an all-inclusive
government where all Ebonyi people will be carried along. The construction of a
15-kilometre road for each of the 13 local government areas in the state has
since commenced.
The governor has also graciously approved the hiring of some expatriate
engineers for the purpose of transference of knowledge and skills to our indigenous
engineers, with a view to stabilising the technical manpower of the ministry.
Today, a drive through our urban roads will make an indigene born in this city
(Abakaliki) to miss his way, as all the usual pot-holes and diversions are now
gone and quickly replaced with asphalted, concrete-based and new drainage
systems fully in place, to ensure durability and longevity of the roads.
Construction
of the First Fly-Overs
The fact remains that the people of Ebonyi State only knew about fly-overs when
they visit other state capitals in the federation. But, Umahi’s administration
has boldly embarked on the construction of three fly-over bridges in the state
capital, and a pedestrian-crossing, the first of its kind since the creation of
Ebonyi State. The fly-overs located at Akanu-Ibiam Roundabout, Presco Junction
and at the International Market, are built to ease human and vehicular
movements along the Trans-African Sahara Road, which connects most northern
states and Cameroon. The pedestrian-crossing at the gate of the permanent site
of the Ebonyi State University will, on completion, ensure that crossing the
busy Abakaliki–Enugu Expressway by students will be hitch-free. The
construction of the fly-overs, which have not lasted up to eight months, have reached
advanced stages of completion.
Roads Under Construction
The number of roads undergoing construction and reconstruction, both within the
urban and rural roads seem to be unquantifiable, as excavators make new routes
on daily basis, courtesy of His Excellency, who has vowed to develop Ebonyi –
despite limitations and scarce resources – with diligence, sincerity of purpose
and prudent management of funds. It is, indeed, marvellous in our eyes and we
give God all the glory for making all things new in his own time.
Rehabilitated/Asphalted Roads
Water Works Road, Ogoja–Onuebonyi–Rice Mill Road, Gunning Road, New Market
Road, Nkaliki–EBBC–EBHA–Abakaliki LGA Road, Hosanna Park, Hosanna Street,
Ezika Street (Yam market), Old Park, Jos Street, Obiri Street, Nwodo Street,
Mberi Street, Awolowo Street, Nsugbe Street, Uga Street, Ezza Road, Udensi
Round-about–Mile 50, Adiq Suite Road, Gulf Round-about–Quarry–Fide Mbam Road,
Hausa Quarters, Onwe Road, Vanco Junction to Government House, Convent Road,
Meat Market, New Market Road, Udemezue Street, Arondizuogu Street, Nkwogu
Street and Zik Avenue.
Ongoing Roads, Fly-Over Bridges In Abakaliki
Akanu Ibiam fly-over, Presco Junction flyover, International Market flyover,
EBSU Campus-gate Pedestrian crossing, Udensi Bridge, Haraca–Oshim Igbele
Street, Obi Street, Watchman Street, Ibe/Obodoukwu Street, Osborn
La-Palm–Ogbaga Road, Eze & Bros–Oroke Onuoha Road, Erkanka Street,
Agbado-Ozo Street from FRSC, Aguogboriga layout, Police Quarters internal road,
Mbam-Agbo Extension (a virgin road), Mbam-Agbo Street, from G Hostel, Off
Hatchery Road, Ezeadikwa Street, Ugo Dan Street, Emefor Street, Agbaja Road
(from Chosen church, IDU Hall), Omougo Street, Itapa Azobu, opposite Grace
Court, Amike Aba Road, Edema Close, Ezekeikwo Street, Mgbabor Street, Oroke
Onuoha Road, St Patrick’s Church–Ogbaga Road (swamp), Diamond Point Road, road
behind Staff Development Centre, Anulo Junction–Nwogodo Road.
Ndiagu Layout, Abakaliki, Onoogolu Street, Isuofia Street,
Okeke Street, Ugwuoba Street, Nsukka Street, Nawfia Street, Akaeze Street,
Mbadugha Street, Neni Street, Ukpo Street, Uke Street, Anekwe Street, Igbokwe
Street, Iwolo Street, Adazi Street, Atuenyi Street, Mbanefo Street, Ezejiofor
Street, Nnewi Street, Abagana Street.
Ongoing projects in Ebonyi North
Ezzamgbo–Effium Road, Hill Top–Nwofe road, Ishieke–Odomoke road (Nwiboko Obodo
Road), Amike–Abegu-Ozibo bridge, Amachara–Oferekpe–Ovuduechi Road.
Ongoing projects in Ebonyi Central
Enyibichiri Ikwo Road, Ndufu–Alike–FUNAI Road, Nkalagu–Ehamufu Road.
Ongoing projects in Ebonyi South
Amasiri–Okposi–Uburu road, Ezzama–Oshiri-Onicha-Isu-Uburu Road,
Amasiri–Nguzu–Owutu Edda Road, Amangwu–Owutu Edda Bridge, Ihenu
channelisation/culverts, Ntezi–Agba–Isu Road.
Durability of
Projects
In other to ensure durability and longevity of these roads, the Ebonyi State
Ministry of Works and Transport, through the Civil Engineering Department,
collects and maintains a scientific inventory on the terrain, road distance and
soil type within the state in the ministry’s soil laboratory. Designs and
estimated cost of construction of selected roads are kept in advance, awaiting
the schedule of road construction as directed by the state executive council,
chaired by a visionary-and-infrastructure-thirsty governor.
Commendation
Recall that on several occasions – due to the slippery nature of the soil
texture of the roads leading to the Old and Hosanna Parks – lorries and
heavy-duty vehicles fall on the way, resulting in loss of properties. But all these
are now stories of the past, as transporters and vehicle owner now enjoy smooth
and safe drive to and fro the parks; from the axis of the New Market to the
Gunning Road axis. At Ogoja Rice Mill – Onuebonyi Road, it looked as a near
impossibility, considering the level of decay the road suffered earlier, before
the intervention of His Excellency, barely within three months of his inception
of office. At Nkaliki–EBBC–EBHA–Abakaliki LGA Headquarters road, the remarkable
magic of concrete-based roads achieved the most enviable result, as road users,
some EXCO members, legislators and artisans are overwhelmed by the precedence
recorded by the engineer-turned-governor’s innovative moves to give the state
the best in solid and durable road network.
Residents of Udemezue Street never dreamt their plight will
end so soon, even though they had faith in the present administration, they
never expected it to happen so soon. His Excellency Governor Umahi, at a church
service marking the 2015 independence anniversary celebration, openly directed
that work should immediately commence at the Udemezue Street, having plied the
road leading to the Saint John the Evangelist’s Catholic Church, Okpaugwu,
Abakaliki, and felt the pains residents pass through on daily basis to access
their places work, take their children to school, and go to church.
The asphalting of Ogoja Road is extended to Government House- Mile 50, Ezza
Road–Presco Junction–Adiq Suites. Others are Onwe Road, Ejiofor Street, Nnodo
Street, Water Works Road, Uga Strret, Fide Mbam Road, from Gulf Course to
Ogoja–Enugu Expressway and Ndizuogu Street. All the major streets in the
capital city have been rid of pot-holes, as a palliative measure, before
asphalting will commence in earnest.
Conclusion
I will conclude this treatise by once again quoting SGF Lawal: “Let me, in all
frankness, commend the Ebonyi people for choosing Umahi as their governor, and
interest the general public to note that the Presidency was fully in support of
the governor’s developmental strides, as the present Federal Government was not
interested in which party any governor belonged, but whether or not such
administration was doing a wonderful job for their people.”
At a period when many States can’t pay their staff salaries while Engr. Dave
Umahi pays and still embark upon all these numerous projects, we Ebonyians
should not only be proud of our own but must do our best to support and promote
this divine gift to our State to enable him achieve more for our dear State..
Finally, I say kudos to my uncle, mentor and leader, Governor Umahi. I pray
that God grants you the Wisdom of Solomon, to enable you make a difference in
Ebonyi State politics in particular and Nigeria as a whole.
Eze Monica. C. Ada, Technical
Assistant (TA) on Media to Ebonyi State Government can be reached through quintrelking@gmail.com
