Infrastructure & transport

Fixing Nigeria’s infrastructure must be private-sector led. All the government must do is provide the support and what we can call a guarantee for the private sector to be able to build infrastructure. #AtikuMeetsBusinessCommunity https://t.co/86bdtrAtBc

Bolstering our power sector is imperative. We will lay special emphasis on critical infrastructure, especially Power, to ensure a clear measurable increase of 200% of today’s generation, transmission and distribution,

The Obi-Datti administration, from its inception, will continue to encourage investment in infrastructure energy, transport, irrigation, and telecoms to grow these and other sectors. We are eager to quickly close the infrastructure gap between now and 2030.

Let me touch briefly on Infrastructure. The top three priorities are Power generation, Roads, and Heavy Haulage Railway network. We will realize these by using current oil earnings to invest in critical physical and human infrastructure,

Second, pursuant to Goal 9 of the SDGs our administration will from its inception, continue to encourage investment in infrastructure - energy, transport, irrigation, and telecoms—to grow these and other sectors.

We will support the private sector to invest aggressively in the power chain through a multifaceted approach particularly the transmission infrastructure. As we all know, two components of the power sector (generation and distribution)

We will diversify the funding for our national surface transportation system (Roads, rail, bridges and mass transit) and programmes with the creation of the Highway Trust Fund Accounts. This account will be funded jointly [by federal government,

In continuation of his commitment to the infrastructural development of Abia State, the state Governor, Dr Alex Otti @alexottiofr , yesterday flagged off a strategic 30.1 km of road, the Arochukwu-Ndi Okereke-Ozuabam road. This very road had been abandoned for about 40 years.

It has come to my attention, and I strongly denounce the distortion of facts surrounding my actions and statements during my tenure as governor of Anambra State, particularly concerning the ongoing demolitions for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal super highway.

Last weekend, I had a packed itinerary that was very tough and challenging from Friday but all ended successfully to the glory of God. It began with my attending the burial in my village of Dr. Isaac Obi, a strong Obidient supporter who was a resident of Minnesota, USA. Thereafter, I attended the burial of someone I consider a dearest brother, who meant so much to me as a great adviser and one of the best human beings I have met in my life—Mr. Alfred Nwosu. After that, I joined other notable people to attend the burial of Pastor Ngozi Mouka, the wife of Pastor Lazarus Mouka, the General Overseer of the Lord’s Chosen Ministry, in Imo State. On Saturday, I travelled for six and a half hours from Onitsha to Igarra, Akoko-Edo by road, to join our Labour Party governorship candidate for Edo State, Barrister Olumide Akpata, and continued our campaign through Jattu-Uzairue and Auchi. On leaving Auchi around 6 PM, but due to the bad roads, it took us about an hour and a half to reach Ekpoma, where enthusiastic Obidients had been waiting all day. From Ekpoma, it took us about 3 hours to drive to Benin. I must express my sadness because the total journey used to take about 2 hours, but the poor road conditions made it much longer. We encountered over a dozen accidents along the way, and my heart kept bleeding, wondering how we have allowed ourselves to descend so low to a situation where we, the leaders no longer care. Yesterday, Sunday, in Benin City, I joined Barr. Olumide Akpata for two Thanksgiving services: Mass at the Holy Cross Cathedral on Mission Road and a service between 8 am and 12noon. Thereafter, I joined in celebrating His Excellency, Sir Chief Dr. Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom, as he marked his 90th birthday at St. Gabriel the Archangel Cathedral, Benin. My day concluded with the Communities Union Cultural Festival, where we celebrated the unity and heritage of the state. These engagements reflect our collective commitment to a better Nigeria that cares for everyone. They reaffirm once again the beauty and unity of our nation. -PO

On Tuesday the 15th, my journey from Onitsha in Anambra State to Anyigba in Kogi State by road once again underscored my consistent appeal for all tiers of government to prioritize the repair and completion of existing road infrastructure, rather than launching new projects that may not be completed anytime soon, further adding to the growing list of abandoned projects scattered all over the country. The journey, which should normally take around three and a half hours, took us over seven hours. The route through Obollo Afor, Otukpa Branch, Ejule, and Anyigba was exhausting. On the return trip, we took an alternate route via Ogugu and Enugu-Ezike, departing Kogi State around 2:00 p.m. and not arriving back until about 9:00 p.m. – all for a meeting that lasted just 30 minutes. This is my travel experience across the country this year. In the first quarter, I had cause to travel from Calabar to Uyo, a trip that should take about an hour, but it ended up taking four hours. I travelled from Port Harcourt to Bayelsa, thinking I would use the East-West Road to Warri, but it became a treacherous journey. Warri to Benin was a similar experience. In August, I travelled from Abuja to Kaduna, where I spent over two hours on the Kaduna bypass alone. The Onitsha to Benin route was no different. My recent trip from Benin to Auchi and back was excruciating, and one cannot help but wonder. I know these things cannot be fixed overnight, but my appeal is that there should be total commitment to alleviating the suffering of the Nigerian travelling public, rather than launching new projects. The resources should be directed toward improving the existing roads and easing the burden on commuters. -PO

As planned today, I visited Dutse, Jigawa State, to commiserate with Governor Alhaji Umar Namadi Dan Modi and the people of Jigawa over the tragic petroleum tanker incident that took over 180 lives and over 80 still hospitalized. Those who died and were hospitalized are mainly young people in their prime productive years. This is a national tragedy. I pray for the departed souls and strength for their bereaved families. I also pledge to donate to the victims. I appreciate and thank the government for the efforts they are making to alleviate the suffering and help those in the hospital. Again, I use this as a point of contact to condole all the victims of the tanker explosion and spillage and to urge tanker drivers to be more careful. I also call on governments at all levels to provide our people with a source of livelihood to avoid things that will jeopardize their lives. The frequency of tragedies in our nation has become a concerning issue that calls for special supplications for God's intervention even as relevant stakeholders and governments at all levels should strive to put in place infrastructure and laws that will help prevent such ugly incidents. Tragedies occur when necessary human action is not adequately taken to mitigate misfortune. -PO