Otti Orders Immediate Repairs on Flooded Opobo–Azumini Highway
Governor Alex Otti has directed the immediate commencement of palliative works on the flooded section of the Opobo–Azumini Federal Highway at Ovom Mechanic Village in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State, following persistent seasonal flooding that has disrupted movement along the strategic interstate corridor.
The directive was announced on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, by the Abia State Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, during a media briefing.
The affected section of the highway, located at Ovom Mechanic Village, has become increasingly difficult for motorists to navigate as heavy rains continue to worsen flooding in the area.
The road is a critical transport link connecting Aba and Azumini in Abia State with several communities in Akwa Ibom State, including Ika, Etim Ekpo and Ukanafun local government areas.
Announcing the governor’s directive, Kanu said the intervention was aimed at restoring the road’s usability pending a permanent engineering solution to the recurring flooding.
“Relief has come for users of the Opobo–Azumini Federal Highway.”
“The section of the road at Ovom Mechanic Village has become difficult to use due to flooding during the rainy season,” Kanu said.
He added, “I want to announce that Governor Alex Otti has directed the Commissioner for Works and his team of engineers to carry out immediate palliative works on the section of the road affected by seasonal flooding.”
According to the commissioner, the Opobo–Azumini Highway is a federal road, but the Abia State Government has continued to intervene because of its importance to residents, commuters and commercial activities within and outside the state.
“In the past two years, the state government has carried out temporary maintenance on the road.”
“However, for the record, it is a federal road,” Kanu said.
The latest intervention follows repeated deterioration of the road despite earlier maintenance works undertaken by the state government.
Official records indicate that palliative repairs covering about 3.6 kilometres had previously been executed on failed sections of the Opobo Road corridor between Opobo Junction and Mechanic Village in Obingwa Local Government Area.
However, the recurring seasonal flooding has continued to undermine those efforts, necessitating fresh intervention.
The Opobo–Azumini Federal Highway is an important interstate route linking Abia and Akwa Ibom states, facilitating the movement of commuters, agricultural produce and commercial goods.
Its poor condition during the rainy season has posed significant challenges to motorists and businesses that rely on the corridor.
Although the Federal Government is responsible for the maintenance of the highway, the Abia State Government said it would continue to undertake emergency interventions where necessary to ease the hardship experienced by road users while awaiting a permanent solution.
The Commissioner for Works and engineers from the ministry are expected to commence the palliative repairs immediately in line with the governor’s directive to restore safe and smooth movement along the affected section of the highway.
