Why Abia Govt Postponed Commissioning of Port Harcourt Road Despite Completion

The Abia State Government has delayed the official commissioning of Port Harcourt Road in Aba, despite the project’s completion. Find out the reasons behind the shift and what comes next.

By All Facts Newspaper – 20^th May 2025 | The much-anticipated commissioning of the newly reconstructed Port Harcourt Road in Aba, Abia State, has been officially postponed — a development that has triggered mixed reactions among residents and stakeholders across the state.

Speaking to journalists on Monday, Abia State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, confirmed what many had only heard as a rumour, making it clear that the commissioning event has indeed been suspended until further notice.

“I am sure some of you may have been hearing about it through the grapevine, so this is like a formal announcement that the exercise has been put off,” Prince Kanu stated.

According to him, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was expected to be present for the commissioning, could not make the scheduled visit due to other national engagements. The president has, however, proposed a new date in early June to personally commission the strategic road project.

“I recall that Mr. President, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, was to be on hand to flag off that project, but due to his schedule at this time, he elected to come to the state sometime in early June,” Kanu explained.

The delay in the commissioning has stirred intense speculation and political conversations, with many questioning the true reason behind the postponement. Some residents of Aba have expressed disappointment, wondering if the decision is politically motivated or a sign of brewing tension between the state and federal government.

Others have raised concerns over the timing of the announcement, noting that preparations were already in top gear, with high expectations that the project would be delivered and unveiled as promised.

“This road has changed our lives. But we want to know what is really going on. Why delay something that’s already completed?” a local trader, Mrs. Chinyere Okoro, questioned.

The Port Harcourt Road reconstruction is a flagship project of the Governor Alex Otti-led administration and forms part of the urban renewal blueprint aimed at reviving Aba’s commercial lifeline. The road, which had been in total disrepair for decades, is now equipped with proper drainage, concrete pavement, and durable asphalt surfacing — a transformation that many say has redefined the city.

Despite the postponement, Prince Okey Kanu assured that the commissioning will still happen and that President Tinubu’s proposed visit in June will underscore the renewed collaboration between the federal and state governments in infrastructural development.

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