By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
Aba, May 10, 2026
The Abia Government says it will reconstruct the Afor Ule Market in Aba to provide a more conducive environment for traders and improve road infrastructure around the area.
Gov. Alex Otti of Abia disclosed this during an inspection of ongoing road projects in Aba.
He said that the market reconstruction, which would be completed within one year, would be carried out in phases to allow traders to continue their businesses during the exercise.
According to him, the project is aimed at ensuring that every trader has a comfortable place to carry out trading activities.
The governor also announced that the Afor Ule Road would be reconstructed to make it motorable for commuters and other road users.
He frowned at the use of roadsides for trading activities and warned that the government would no longer tolerate trading on major roads.
“We want all trading activities to be done inside the market and not on the roads leading to the market,” Otti said.
He urged traders to desist from displaying wares on the roads, describing the practice as improper and dangerous to road users.
Otti thanked residents for supporting his administration and said that the government belonged to the people of Abia.
The governor also prayed for God’s blessings, good health and prosperity for the residents.
In a related development, Otti said that the state government was determined to address the perennial flooding challenges around the Obohia Road area in Aba.
Speaking during an inspection of the Obohia Road Project, he explained that the reconstruction would include the construction of drainage channels to redirect storm water from Obohia Road, Port Harcourt Road and adjoining areas into the Aba River.
According to him, the measure is intended to prevent flood water from flowing into a nearby borrow pit that had become an environmental hazard, especially during the rainy season.
“There is a pond (borrow pit) here which constitutes an environmental hazard, particularly when it rains.
“It is for this reason that we designed the road to include channels that will direct storm water from Obohia Road, Port Harcourt Road and other adjoining roads into Aba River,” he said.
Otti added that once the project was completed, the borrow pit would no longer be useful and the government would reclaim the land for productive use.
He further urged residents to participate in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards.
The governor also inspected other road projects in Aba, including Umuchichi Road off Okpulor Umuobo Road, Afule Road off Okpulor Umuobo Road, Nigerian Breweries Road and Eche Road.
