Chief Whip of the Senate and Senator representing Abia North Senatorial zone,  Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has commended President Muhammadu Buhari for approving the construction of the section two of the Ohafia to Arochukwu road in Abia North Senatorial district of Abia state.

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had on Wednesday approved N12 billion for the construction of the road project.
In a statement personally signed by the Abia North senator and made available to newsmen, Kalu expressed sincere appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for what he referred to as a great favour to the people of Abia North.

He said getting the road approved has increased his fulfillment as a representative of the people adding that it would breath life into the economy and livelihood of Ohafia and Arochukwu.

He commended the Minister of Works and Housing,  Babatunde Fashola; President of the Senate,  Senator Ahmad Lawan ; Speaker House of Representatives,  Femi Gbajabiamila ; Acting Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Works , Engr AbubakarAliyu; Chairman Senate Committee on Works, Senator Adamu Aliero ;  Managing Director Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) Mr Uche Orji; Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Interior,  Barr. Georgina Ehuriah for their relentless efforts and for working hand in hand with him to capture the road in the appropriation process.

He also expressed appreciation to the Abia  All Progressives Congress stating that the stakeholders worked as a team and their team work has given them victory.

In no order of hierarchy,  Kalu specifically thanked Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives and member representing Isuikwuato /Umunneochi federal Constituency,  Rt Hon. Nkeiru Onyejiocha ; Minister of state for Mines and steel,  Dr Uche Ogah ; Member representing Arochukwu /Ohafia Federal Constituency,  Rt Hon. Uko Nkole ; Member representing Bende Federal Constituency and spokesman of the House of Representatives,  Hon . Benjamin Kalu for their commitment and assistance in facilitating the road approval

He said: “I, on behalf of the good  people of Abia  North Senatorial zone and Abia state , do express sincere appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari, for this great favour to the people of Abia North. I am deeply excited because the completion of the road would improve the quality of life of our constituents,  by easing the stress they currently face commuting the road especially Arochukwu road.

The Chief Whip  believed that the road, being strong economic artery of his Senatorial zone, would improve the hardship facing the commuting public when completed.

The member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Rep. Benjamin Kalu has expressed gratitude to the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola.

This follows the approval for rehabilitation and construction of the Umuahia-Bende-Ohafia Road (LOT2) in Abia State by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The Minister announced the approval of the construction of the road on Wednesday during the FEC meeting.

It is expected that the rehabilitation will take off from the Umuahia axis of the road.

In a statement obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday, the Federal lawmaker thanked Minister Fashola for what he called listening ear, consideration, and support over the last one year regarding the approval and repair of the Bende-Ohafia road.

He said, “I thank the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola for taking this project as his own over the last year. The people of Bende have suffered greatly as a result of the severe dilapidation of the Umuahia-Bende-Ohafia road.

“I am very impressed with the excellence demonstrated by the staff of the Ministry of Works during my engagements with them for this federal government’s intervention.

“I particularly appreciate the Federal Executive Council, the Ministry of Works Permanent Secretary, the former acting permanent secretary Engr. Yemi, the Director of Works – South-East highways Eng. Funso Adebiyi, as well as the staff at the Abia state office of the Ministry who worked diligently doing the measurement and design of the road.

“I also congratulate the contractor- Hartland Construction, and am hopeful that they will be funded immediately to commence work from the Umuahia axis having secured this approval”.

Hon. Kalu expressed hopes that economic activities in his constituency would enjoy a boost upon completion of the project.

The Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi; and the President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Nnia Nwodo, on Tuesday reiterated the need for Ndigbo in the diaspora to return home and invest towards economic development of the region.

The two Igbo leaders, who spoke in Abakaliki on Tuesday, on the occasion of the Ebonyi Business Forum, which held at the Ecumenical Centre, said the way and manner Ndigbo continued to overlook the investment opportunities abound in the zone was partly responsible for the slow pace of economic development in the region.

The two leaders insisted that the situation must change if the region was ready to take its rightful place in the country.

Speaking on the business opportunities in Ebonyi State, Umahi noted that his administration had made efforts in repositioning the state to welcome and accommodate all kinds of investors in the state.

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He said, “Ebonyians and Ndigbo, in general, should visit and invest in any sector of their interest. All the necessary environments that aided the growth of businesses have been provided in the state.”

Nwodo applauded the Igbo investors from Lagos State who were in the state for investment purposes, saying with the level of infrastructural development in Ebonyi, the state would soon become the economic hub of the entire South-East.

He said, “It is said a good wealth is the one that reaches home. I am aware that Igbo registered voters in Lagos are more than three million people.

“But during the elections, they are reminded that Lagos is not their father’s land. When things like that happen, it reminds you that you come from somewhere; and the need to go home. We have to develop Alaigbo, and turn it into what Catalonian is to t Spain, and what Berlin is to Germany,”

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