Why FG won’t abandon N1.450 billion Ohafia -Arochukwu fed highway – Sen Ohuabunwa
By Steve Oko
The immediate -past senator representing Abia North senatorial district, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa , has given reasons the N1.450 billion Ohafia -Arochukwu federal highway would not be abandoned despite his ‘temporary exit’ from the red chamber.
Ohuabuwa who made the explanation while commissioning a solar -powered water borehole he attracted at Umuchiakuma and Amanmini in Ihechiowa community , Arochukwu Local Government Area said the project had already been captured in the 2019 budget.
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP senator who is optimistic of reclaiming his “stolen mandate” at the election petitions tribunal where he is challenging the incumbent Senator Orji Uzor Kalu of the All Progressive Congress, APC, said more fund had also been provided for the project which commenced last year.
He expressed delight at the level of work on the highway and expressed optimism that it would continue despite his absence at the senate “for now”.
The former Speaker, ECOWAS Parliament, explained that the project was segmented into two for speedy execution with Ohafia to Arochukwu as section one, and Ohafia to Bende as section two.
He expressed satisfaction at the progress of work at section one of the project, assuring that work would soon commence at the section two.
Ohuabunwa however, attributed the current slow pace of work at the site to payment delays by the Ministry of Finance as the ministry had certified about N900 million outstanding payment to the contractor.
He noted that while he was in the Senate, he had persistently mounted pressure on the Ministry and other relevant government agencies to ensure the execution of the project, adding that the contractor may have probably slowed down because of his temporary exit from the senate.
Ohuabunwa expressed confidence that work on the road would soon resume now that more money had been added for the project in the 2019 budget.
” Now that the budget is captured in the 2019 budget , the contrator has returned to site and work will soon begin in earnest “.
He however asked the people to be ware of those who might come to “take credit for what they did not do”.
Wawa News Global reports that some sections of the road which had hitherto been almost impassable especially between Ohafia and Ihechiowa had already been fixed.
Ohuabunwa had made the rehabilitation of the colonial road to the ancient Arochukwu kingdom one of his campaign promises, a vowed he had also appreciably pursued with passion despite being in the opposition party.
Meanwhile, Ohuabunwa while commissioning the water borehole project at Ihechiowa executed by the Anambra -Imo River Basin Authority , said it was in fulfilment of his campaign promises to provide potable water for rural communities in the zone.
He said that five of such projects were ready for commissioning in the current phase besides numerous water projects already commissioned in several communities.
The former Senate Committee Chairman on Primary Health identified beneficiaries of the current phase as : Ihechiowa, Akanu Ohafia, Ututu, Amangwu Okon Ohafia, and Abriba.
In his remarks at the event, the Ezeogo (traditional chief) of Umuchiakuma village, Ezeogo Henry Otta, thanked the senator for ending the age-long water challenge of the agrarian village.
Similarly, his Amanmini counterpart, Ezeogo David Diogu said the villages would be eternally grateful to the Ohuabunwa for coming to their rescue.
Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria. 
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