Massive Reconstruction Work To Begin Soon In Ariaria International Market, As Abia Plans To Host La Liga

Abia State Government will soon begin a massive renovation and reconstruction of other sections of the Ariaria International Market, Aba, to make it comply with international standards.

This follows the completion of a section of the A Line of the market.

Briefing journalists in Umuahia on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting, the Abia State Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, explained that the government will ensure that traders who own shops before the renovation are not denied access to the newly constructed shops during the redevelopment exercise.

The meeting, he acknowledged, was presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

According to the commissioner, the Ministry of Trade and Commerce has been directed to conclude the validation of affected shop owners before the commencement of the next phase of the renovation exercise, adding that the affected traders have until October 31, 2926 to get re-validated before this window of opportunity closes.

On health, Kanu announced that the 2026 Abia Mass Mosquito Net Campaign would be formally launched on Friday, October 16, 2026 at the JAAC Secretariat, Umuahia, by 11 a.m.

According to him, 3,003,250 mosquito nets would be distributed across the state during the exercise, even as he announced that the state would commemorate the 2026 World Sight Day on Thursday, October 15, at the Nnenna Oti Bus Terminal.

Abia information commissioner explained that the choice of the terminal was deliberate, as this year’s activities would focus on drivers and the need to promote eye health among road users.

On sports, the Abia information boss stated that the state government’s investments in sports have continued to yield positive results, citing the recent achievements of Abia at the South-East handball competition as an example.

The state’s team, he opined, has secured qualification for the National Handball Division One Championship scheduled to be held in Abuja, following its performance in the regional competition.

On youth development, Kanu maintained that the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has recently visited correctional facilities in Aba and Umuahia to assess the legal, health, welfare and educational needs of inmates, most of whom are young people.

The outreach, he explained, was designed to identify areas where inmates required legal aid, bail assistance, medical attention and family support, even as he stated that there are still opportunities for educational development and preparation for their First School Leaving Certificate Examination (FSLC).

On foreign involvement in Abia football, the commissioner announced that La Liga Week will be staged in Abia from November 26 to December 26, 2026, pointing out that its activities will be organised in collaboration with La Liga and its Spanish and Basque partners in Nigeria.

On road construction and rehabilitation, Prince Kanu disclosed that the construction of the pedestrian bridge at Eziama Ring Road, Aba, has reached an advanced stage, saying that the bridge, when completed, would provide a safer crossing for pedestrians using the road.

According to him, Governor Otti will, on October 21, 2026, formally flag off the construction of the 3.95-kilometre Old Express Road and the 3.9-kilometre Uratta Road, both in Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state.

He revealed that the projects are aligned with the Abia State Integrated Infrastructure Development Project ( ABSIID) that embodies the Otti-led administration’s infrastructure strategy of addressing long-standing challenges with modern scalable solutions.

He further disclosed that construction work has already commenced on the roads ahead of the formal flag-off ceremony, and that more road projects would be flagged off in due course as part of the ABSIID Projects.

Prince Kanu further stated that work is currently going on at 53 direct-labour project locations across the state, out of which four projects had been completed, while seven new projects had been added to the Ministry of Works’ maintenance programme.

The completed projects, he announced, include the access road to Umuobia Housing Estate in Umuahia and Nnoǹọ Road in Ikwuano Local Government Area.

“Others are the rainy-season maintenance of approximately 40.6 kilometres of Ururuka Road, which traverses Umuahia South, Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South and Obingwa LGAs as well as the rainy-season maintenance of Ohiya community road in Umuahia”, he declared.

The newly added direct-labour projects, he averred, include Ihie-Obegu Road in Ugwunagbo LGA; the first phase of Nkwereonye-Umuogo Road at Ubakala in Umuahia South LGA; erosion control works at Amaeke Afarata, Ibeku in Umuahia North LGA; Osisioma Flyover in Aba as well as the maintenance of Umuahia-Bende Road.

He also revealed that 25 roads are currently under contract, adding that the first phase of Bende-Idima Road had been completed.

At the briefing were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma; the Chief Press Secretary CPS to the Governor, Mr Ukoha Njoku Ukoha; and the DG, Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA), Architect Uche Ukeje.

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