Nigeria’s former envoy to South Africa, Ambassador Okey Emuchay, has identified the reason why the infrastructure in Abia State are in terrible condition, also proffering the solution.
He regretted the situation, saying that Abia State is due for total overhaul.
He also faulted claims by the government that it has fixed the State’s infrastructure.
Emuchay lamented that most of the critical infrastructure built by the late Michael Okpara had been abandoned by the government.
The APC chieftain harped on the need for total change of governance in order to take Abia State to a greater height.
According to him, “Abia needs to be repaired. Umuahia needs to be repaired. Abia State doesn’t have a Government House. Abia state doesn’t have Government Lodge. Aba is in a terrible condition. We have refuse littered all over the place.
“If you go to Aba now, you will shed tears. If you go to Ogbo Hill, where they slaughter animals, you’ll find it difficult to eat. Aba doesn’t have abattoir. Aba doesn’t have running water. Aba doesn’t have roads; that is the truth.
“And Aba’s problem, we need experts, town planners to sit down and redesign Aba because majorly, Aba’s problem is a drainage problem. So, if you don’t solve that, and you don’t do it by tarring roads, it wouldn’t last beyond one rainy season.”
He continued: “When Imo State was created in 1976, Rear Admiral Ndubuisi Kanu (rtd) was the first Military Administrator of old Imo State.
“He engaged a Dutch company. They came out with a design. That is what Abia State needs. That is what Umuahia needs. That is what Aba needs.
“These are cities that I’m very familiar with. This is what Mbawsi needs. This is what Ohafia needs. There is no public water in any of these cities I have mentioned.
“The way you provide the electricity and people pay for it, is the way you provide water, and people will pay for it. Clean water, both for the houses and then, industrial places and other businesses.
“People will be eager to pay. These are decisions that have to be taken. If these things have happened in other parts of Nigeria, I don’t see any reason it shouldn’t happen in Abia State.
“I have seen uncompleted fly over in Osisioma. I pass through there virtually every day. The equipment are there.
“The project is uncompleted. It shouldn’t be celebrated, because that is not the problem of the State.
“They have made it in Rivers State, the greater Port Harcourt project. So something new has to happen in Umuahia and Aba,” Emuchay said.
- Adapted from Daily Post