Prominent lawyer, Etigwe Uwa (SAN), has commended Abia State Governor Alex Otti for his proactive approach to addressing road infrastructure challenges in the state.
Uwa in a statement on Saturday morning made available to The Whisperer, noted the visible remedial interventions along several roads, particularly the ongoing efforts to combat erosion on the Umuahia-Bende-Ohafia route.
As a frequent user of the road, he described the intervention as timely and praised the governor for his responsiveness to the needs of road users across Abia State.
Uwa also lauded the collaborative efforts of the federal government and the Abia State Government in flagging off a new airport project. While he acknowledged the importance of the project, he called for careful consideration of its viability, given its proximity to Owerri Airport, which is only 20–30 minutes away.
Uwa suggested the inclusion of a Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) facility in the airport project, citing a large market for such services in Nigeria. He also urged the authorities to explore other strategies to ensure the airport stands out from the many underutilised airports in the country.
He said: “Travelled home this week and on my way the remedial interventions along most of the roads we plied were very visible. Of particular note is the effort being made to mitigate the effects of erosion along the Umuahia Bende Ohafia. That intervention is recent given that I ply that road often. Kudos to Governor Alex Otti for being prompt and responsive to the plight of road users along that axis and in other parts of the state.
“Kudos also to the federal government and the Abia State Government for the flag off of the new airport. We hope some consideration is being given to its viability given the presence of the Owerri Airport which is 20 -30 minutes away. The government should consider putting an MRO in the facility as the market for it is huge in Nigeria. There may be other initiatives that would make the project viable and different from the many airports in the country which remain underutilized. I wish the governments of Abia State and the federation success with regard to this project.
“Let’s applaud our elected leaders where they do very well and constructively point out where their performance falls below our expectations.”
