By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The Abia State Government on Sunday assured residents affected by flooding along the ongoing Owerrinta Road reconstruction corridor that the situation is temporary and will be resolved before the project is completed.
The assurance followed the circulation of a viral video showing floodwater inundating a residential compound along the road.
In a statement, the Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, said the flooding was caused by the area’s natural topography and unusually heavy rainfall recorded over the past two days, adding that the ongoing road reconstruction had only temporarily worsened an existing drainage problem.
He explained that the project remains under construction, allowing the Ministry of Works and the contractor to assess drainage patterns and implement engineering adjustments before completion.
Kanu dismissed political interpretations of the incident, insisting that the government’s priority is the welfare of residents and the delivery of quality infrastructure.
He noted that similar drainage challenges encountered during the reconstruction of the Onuimo–Umuahia Road corridor were successfully resolved and assured residents that the same level of professionalism would be applied to the Owerrinta Road project.
The government urged affected residents to remain calm, pledging to work with the Ministry of Works and the contractor to provide a lasting solution while protecting lives and property.
