Work Progresses on Ihenta Ohafia Road As Ibe Okwara’s Intervention Restores Construction Activities | Photos + Video

Construction work has gained momentum on the 2-kilometre Ihenta Road project in Ebem Ohafia, Ohafia Local Government Area of Abia State, with drainage construction now underway following the project’s resumption.

The road project, being handled by Citymart Integrated Services Limited, was attracted by the Member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa.

An inspection of the project site by ABN TV on July 5, 2026, showed significant progress, with the road fully graded from No. 1 Ihenta Road to Ihenta Market. Heavy-duty equipment were seen clearing drainage channels and cutting gutters along the alignment in preparation for concrete drainage works.

The development comes less than 24 hours after construction activities resumed on the road following the intervention of Hon. Osonwa, raising optimism among residents that the project is back on track.

Speaking with ABN TV, the Site Engineer, Engr. Samuel Chinwendu explained that the first phase of the project involved clearing and opening the road corridor before excavation began to construct drainage channels.

According to him, concrete casting of the drainage system is expected to begin immediately, while earthworks and other components of the road construction will follow after the drainage phase.

“We have completed the clearing and excavation works. By tomorrow, we expect to begin casting the drainage channels. We are targeting about three weeks to complete the drainage works before moving into earthworks and other stages of the project,” he said.

Engr. Chinwendu noted that the road project was facilitated by Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa and expressed confidence that work would continue according to schedule.

Community leaders who monitored the progress described the pace of work as encouraging and commended the lawmaker for ensuring that construction resumed.

A member of the Ebem Council of Chiefs noted that the road, which leads to the residence of the Paramount Ruler of Ebem Ohafia Ancient Kingdom, HRH Ezie Ukoha Kalu Ukoha (JP), had remained in a deplorable condition for many years despite several community efforts to make it motorable.

He expressed appreciation to Hon. Osonwa for facilitating the project, describing it as a major relief for residents.

Also speaking, the First Vice President General of the Ebem Ohafia Development Union (EODU), Hon. Ogwo Ukpola Eke (Triple), said the Ihenta Road serves as a major access route connecting parts of Ebem Ohafia and stressed the importance of the ongoing drainage works.

According to him, a durable road cannot be achieved without a proper drainage system, adding that the contractor’s decision to commence with drainage construction was in line with engineering best practices.

Chief Ukpola Eke explained that the temporary suspension of work on the project was due to funding constraints associated with federal budget releases and not because the project had been abandoned.

He commended Hon. Osonwa for remaining committed to ensuring the completion of projects attracted to the constituency.

The community leader also disclosed that the constituency pay-loader earlier procured by Hon. Osonwa for road construction and rehabilitation across Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency was deployed to support the ongoing work at Ihenta Road, contributing to the speed of the earth-moving operations.

Residents expressed optimism that the completion of the road would improve vehicular movement, boost commercial activities around Ihenta Market, and enhance connectivity within Ebem Ohafia and neighbouring communities.

The contractor has projected that the drainage phase of the project will be completed within the next three weeks, after which earthworks and other stages of the road construction will commence.