The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, has decried the stateโs reliance on other states for food, leading to high cost of living in the state.
Alex Otti said poor road networks and poor investment in agriculture by previous administrations were responsible for the trend.
Otti stated this on Wednesday while flagging off the construction of the 19.1-kilometer Itungwa-Mgboko-Amaise-Amairi-Omoba-Ahiaba-Nkwo-Elechi Road.
The project, supported by the World Bank under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), is to, among other purposes, enhance transportation infrastructure and broaden access to urban markets for stakeholders within the agricultural value chain.
Governor Otti said, โThe eventual take-off of the project is to establish solid structural pathways that support the entrepreneurial ambitions of Ndi Abia. Despite our rich resources, we have often relied on external sources for food. Our administration is determined to change that by investing in agro-infrastructure and supporting local farmers.โ
The Governor of Abia State noted that his administration was committed to dismantling barriers to productivity and creating opportunities in the state.
โIn the past 16 months, we have initiated numerous projects to rebuild our state, restore order, and drive prosperity. This road project is a continuation of our promise to put the people first, dismantling barriers to productivity and creating opportunities for all,โ Otti added.