Abia State Government has commenced the construction of monuments at all the borders with neighboring states to beautify and standardize the gateways into the state.
The State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, said this at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Umuikaa District Headquarters, Isialangwa South Local Government Area, where he observed the Sabbath worship at the weekend.
The governor, who announced to the congregation that the dualization of Umuikaa-Owerrinta Road which will terminate at the boundary by Imo River Bridge with Imo State was about to start, said the idea behind the monuments is to have a unique identity that alerts visitors or those traveling through the State when they get into Abia.
“We want if you’re entering any part of Abia State, you will know that you have come into Abia. At Imo River, we will have a monument, will also have at Onu Imo (the border with Imo between Mbaise and Umuahia), also have it at Umunneochi (on the Enugu-Umuahia-Aba Expressway), Nguzu Edda (in Ohafia LGA), Onicha Ngwa Nlagu (in Obingwa LGA), and we will also have it at Obigbo (border with Rivers State).
“When you enter any part of Abia, you will know that you have entered Abia,” he said.
Governor Otti assured that all those whose buildings and properties will be affected by the dualization have nothing to worry about as they will be duly compensated by the government.
“I’m sorry that some fences and buildings would be pulled down. But before we pull any fence or building down, we will pay compensation.
“If you are in doubt, go and ask Ossah people. We pulled down over two hundred buildings there. But before we did that, we paid hundred percent compensation to the owners, which they used to build elsewhere”, the governor assured.