Reconstruction of road, bridges begin in Abia State

Reconstruction work by both the Federal Government and Dangote Industries Ltd. on a 16-kilometre concrete road and bridges in Ofeme Community, Abia State has begun.

At the flag off of the road project, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chief Executive, Dangote Industries Ltd., said that a new dawn was coming to Ofeme Community, as the deplorable state of their roads would soon be over.

Dangote, represented by Mr Okoro George, the South-South Regional Director, Dangote Cement, said that the 16-kilometre road would form a ring road around Ofeme and connect it at two points to the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.

The construction of the road to be handled by AG-Dangote, a subsidiary of Dangote Industries Ltd., would bring succour and development to the community.

Dangote said that the project was covered under the Federal Government’s Executive Order 7, where “participating investors would use tax credits to reduce corporate taxes payable to government until they recoup the value of their investments in roads and bridges”.

He said that the two bridges connecting the town to other communities would be rebuilt.

Dangote said: “AG-Dangote had established itself as a construction company of repute having delivered the 26-kilometre Ibese-Itori concrete road in Ogun.

“The two kilometres Apapa-Wharf Dual Carriage concrete road; the ongoing 43 Kilometres Obajana-Kabba concrete road and the 35 kilometres Apapa-Oworonshoki Expressway.’’

Dangote said countries that had achieved self-sufficiency in cement production found it expedient to adopt construction of concrete roads because of its durability, cheapness and environment friendly.

He restated his commitment and readiness to partner more with the government in the provision of critical infrastructure, so as to lift the standard of living of the people.

Also, Mr Babatunde Fashola, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, said reconstruction of the road was a gigantic project that would open the community and surrounding towns to development.

Fashola, represented by Nwankwo Chukwudike, Federal Controller of Works, Abia State, said the project on completion, would open up access roads to manufacturing clusters in the area.

The minister said that the project would reduce high cost of transportation and improve the standard of living of people in the area.

Fashola said that it would also facilitate the movement of agricultural produce from the farming hubs and become cheaper and easier, bringing in more income for the farmers.