The Global Executive Committee of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has urged the Federal Government to rehabilitate and reconstruct the Owerri-Aba Expressway, citing the road’s deteriorating condition and importance to economic activity in the South-East.
Key Highlights
- Ohanaeze Ndigbo called for urgent rehabilitation and reconstruction of the Owerri-Aba Expressway.
- The group described the highway as a critical economic link between Owerri and Aba.
- It urged Works Minister David Umahi to inspect the road and identify sections requiring urgent work.
- The organisation called for emergency repairs, drainage correction and pavement reconstruction where necessary.
- Ohanaeze commended the Federal Government’s intervention on the First Niger Bridge.
- The group also called for preventive maintenance of federal highways across the South-East.
Ohanaeze Seeks Urgent Intervention on Owerri-Aba Road
In a statement signed by factional Deputy President General Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and Acting Secretary General Prof. Chibuikeya Achoakawa, the organisation appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Works to give the Owerri-Aba Expressway urgent technical attention.
Ohanaeze described the corridor as economically important because it connects Owerri, an administrative, business and transportation centre, with Aba, one of the South-East’s major commercial and manufacturing hubs.
The organisation said the highway supports the movement of manufactured goods, agricultural produce and passengers, while facilitating inter-city trade, industrial activity, tourism, hospitality and daily commuting.
Road Condition Raises Economic Concerns
Ohanaeze said the road’s deteriorating condition was affecting motorists, transport operators, traders, manufacturers and other road users. It said poor road conditions increase vehicle maintenance costs, prolong travel times, raise logistics expenses and expose people to safety risks.
The organisation called on Umahi to undertake an on-the-spot inspection to identify sections requiring emergency repairs, comprehensive rehabilitation, drainage correction, pavement reconstruction and other safety measures. It said the request was not for preferential treatment, but for proportional attention to a strategic federal highway with significant economic importance.
Appeal Follows First Niger Bridge Intervention
Ohanaeze commended the Federal Government’s intervention on the First Niger Bridge, which links Anambra and Delta states. The bridge was closed to traffic on September 7 after vandalised structural components, including bolts, nuts and parts of the expansion-joint steelwork, were discovered.
The initial September 21 reopening date was extended by one week because of persistent rainfall. After inspecting the bridge on September 23, Umahi said progress had been made, including replacing and securing vandalised bolts. He said the specialised expansion joint had been manufactured and brought into the country for installation.
The minister also directed additional work, including repainting, installing more solar-powered streetlights, completing CCTV surveillance and conducting further structural assessment. The Federal Government said the bridge was expected to reopen the following week, subject to completion of critical work.
‘Owerri-Aba Should Receive the Same Urgency’
Ohanaeze said the First Niger Bridge intervention showed the importance of prompt technical assessment, proper supervision and prioritising public safety. It urged the Federal Government to extend similar urgency to the Owerri-Aba Expressway.
“The First Niger Bridge has shown what urgency can achieve; Owerri-Aba should now receive the same urgency,” the organisation said.
The group called for a shift from emergency repairs to preventive maintenance, saying federal highways should be inspected and maintained regularly before deterioration leads to more expensive interventions.
Group Calls for Preventive Road Maintenance
Ohanaeze said it would continue to acknowledge government interventions while drawing attention to infrastructure challenges affecting Ndigbo and other Nigerians. The organisation said its appeal was ultimately about safe roads, durable infrastructure and effective attention to strategic federal highways across the South-East.
The appeal comes amid broader concerns about the condition of major roads linking commercial and industrial centres across the region. Ohafia TV reported on Ohanaeze’s call.
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