ABIA ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE REVOLUTION: The Rains Have Not Slowed Otti’s Momentum (OPINION)

For decades in Abia State, the rainy season was the official reason for doing nothing.
“Let’s wait for dry season,” was the excuse. And when dry season came, it was “let’s wait for budget approval or “Let’s wait for funds”. The result was years of abandoned roads, failed promises, and communities cut off for months and years.

Under the leadership of Governor Alex Otti, that narrative has changed. The Abia State Government is proving that development does not take a break because of rain.

In spite of the challenges that come with building roads during the rainy season — flooding, soil instability, and logistics delays — this administration has continued to execute several road projects across the state.

From Aba to Umuahia, and from urban centers to rural communities, contractors are on site. Asphalt is being laid. Drainages are being dug. Roads are being built and maintained.

This is deliberate. Previous governments treated rain as a barrier. Governor Otti’s government treats it as a test.

By building now, the government is sending a clear message: Abia cannot afford to wait. After years of infrastructure backwardness, the state must cover lost ground quickly.

Beyond speed, there is wisdom in the government’s decision to sustain the momentum of construction despite the challenges that come with the rainy season.

1. Commitment on Display: Continuing work during the rains shows seriousness. It tells citizens that this government is not making excuses.
2. Identifying Hidden Problems: Some drainage failures, flood channels, and weak soil areas only show up during heavy rains. By constructing now, engineers are able to spot and fix problems that would have been missed if work was done only in dry season. The result will be roads that last.
3. Faster Delivery: Instead of losing 5-6 months every year to rain, projects are moving continuously. That is how you close an infrastructure gap that built up over decades. Ohanku, Port Harcourt Road, Umuahia-Uzuakoli-Abiriba-Ohafia road, and of course, Omenuko Bridge are all clear examples.
   Governor Alex Otti campaigned on a promise to prioritize infrastructure as the foundation for commerce, security, investment, quality of life etc. He is keeping that promise.

Roads are not just about movement. They determine the cost of food, the ease of doing business, access to hospitals, and the pride of a people. By tackling them head-on, even in difficult weather, the Governor has proven himself to be a statesman — one who puts the long-term interest of the people above convenience and excuses.
This is possible and practicable because the Governor understands that development is urgent.

The Otti government knows that these projects come with inconveniences. There is traffic diversion. There is mud. In some areas, there is temporary flooding as drainages are being reworked.

To all motorists and residents, the government appeals to you to, please bear with it. The short-term discomfort is for long-term gain. The roads being built now are designed to serve you for the next 20-30 years, not just the next election cycle.

Governor Alex Otti is determined and desperate to make up for lost time. He understands that you cannot make up for lost time by working only when the weather is perfect or when the project is expected to serve some personal political interest.

Governor Alex Otti’s giant strides in road infrastructure, even through the rainy season, are proof that a new Abia is here . A state where government works all year. A state where promises are kept. A state where infrastructure finally matches the enterprise of its people.

The rains will fall. But in Abia today, the work continues.

Ferdinand Ekeoma
Special Adviser to the Governor
(Media and Publicity)
July 19, 2026