The following roads have been fully delivered at Aba: Kamalu Street, Ukaegbu Road, Umuola Road, EhereRoad, Umuocham Road, MCC/Umuojima Road, Omni Drive, Owerri Road, Ochefu Street, ENUC Road, Hospital Road, Jubilee Road, St. Michaels Road, Azikiwe Road, East Road, Park Road, School Road, Pound Road, East street, Okwunuka Road, Cameroun Road, Queens Road, Umuobiakwa circular road and Owerrinta Road. 

Many of the roads, like Park and Azikiwe roads at Aba, have traffic lights installed and functioning while all the roads have drainage ways (gutters) that terminated at major drain pipes that offload storm water into the recently dredged Aba waterside. 

Construction work is ongoing along the Ururuka Road from Obikabia Junction, Old Express Road, Mbawsi-Nsulu Road, Umuojima-Owerrinta Road, Ehere road and Ibere street at Azu Aba. There is also massive surface drainage way construction along federal government owned Aba-Owerri road that has unfortunately led to traffic snarls along that important entry point. Same with Ikot Ekpene road where visitors from neighboring Akwa Ibom state are also experiencing heavy traffic because of the ongoing gutter works along the road.

In Umuahia, the following roads have been re-done: Kaduna Street, Aba Street, Awolowo Street, Umuwaya Road, Road II Federal Low-Cost Housing Estate, Dozie way, Niger Road, and Uwalaka Street.

There is also the reconstruction of three roads within Federal Low-Cost Housing Estate, Agbama Housing Estate Ring Road, Umuovom-Okwueze-House of Assembly Road, Ariam-Usaka Ring Road, Umueze-Agbo-Ubani IbekuModern Market Road, Expansion of Obikabia-Enugu-PH Expressway are still ongoing. 

In Abia North, the government has completed construction of Okon-Aku Main Bridge in Ohafia, and Imo-NdiNkpa Bridge at Umunneochi LGA. While construction is also ongoing along the Eke Eziama-Obuzo-Ngodo Road, Umunneochi, Abiriba Ring Road with spur to Amaukwu-Nkwaumuagbogho Amamba, Eluama-Amibo-Acha and Amibo-Otamkpa Road Isuikwuato. Others are construction of Bende-Idima-Abam Road, Bende-Arochukwu, Abiriba-Nkporo road (Ohafia LGA) and Lohum-Nkpa to Enugu PH Expressway Road.

Most of these roads would have been delivered if the revenue profile of the state had not received major blows as a result of the global fall in oil prices and the reluctance of the Governor to expose the state to very high debts. 

It is on record that even with approval from the state house of assembly to borrow N30b, the governor has only accessed the N14b bailout funds and another N10b to support infrastructure improvement across the state . Observers believe that for a state with relatively low indebtedness the Governor should consider approaching the international funds market and borrow at least N200b with long repayment window to fund massive infrastructure renewal and development at Aba in particular. Chief Sam Mbakwe used similar model to develop old Imo State at a time the federal government declared austerity measures in response to the economic challenges of those days.

It is easy to see that in one year of Okezie Administration more roads are receiving attention across Abia State than the past 16 years combined. But more needs to be done, especially at the commercial hub city of Aba. 

Recently, the Governor visited the minister of work, Dr Babatunde Fashola, to solicit his support in the reconstruction of federal owned PH road Aba. While the governor prioritized that road as a major entry point to Aba, his administration could not work on the road because of existing unfunded contract awarded by the Federal Government. Similarly, the very key Ohanku and Obohia roads are tied up in NDDC contracts and hence the state cannot make intervention on those roads but have received assurances from the new leadership of NDDC that work will soon restart.  

Ariaria international market is possibly the biggest market in the south east and remains very key to the common infrastructure renewal revolution of Dr Ikpeazu. With Aba lying within a low belt and susceptible to heavy rains and flooding. Dr Ikpeazu awarded the perennially problematic "ukwu mango" portion of the market that has defied many previous government efforts but later cancelled the contract because of "poor job" by the contractor. He has re-awarded that portion alongside Faulks road to internationally acclaimed construction giants, Setraco with mandate that includes creating a massive surface drainage system that will take storm water to Umungasi waterside via Braas Street. Work is expected to commence in the dry season. Other roads leading to Ariaria like Umule, old express and MCC are receiving attention with Umule road fully delivered alongside Umuocham and a spur to the express way.

The crux of the plan for Ariaria, as recently unveiled by the Chairman of Abia State Market Development Committee, Chief Innocent Nwigwe, is the total reconstruction of the market using a public private partnership (PPP) arrangement without any of the current shop owners losing his shop or building. That effort is in addition to the recent opening of ultra modern Aba mall at Osisioma that is expected to absorb affected traders while the reconstruction work is ongoing. Abia mall at Umuahia is also ready for use and Shopprite is expected to open there in August.

Analysts believe that the gutters desilting efforts of the governor and the dredging of the waterside saved Aba from a major flooding disaster last year because of the unusually heavy rains of last year tagged "APGA bad belle rains" by the ever jovial residents of Aba. The dredging enabled much more higher volumes of storm water to be received at the water side River from all the newly re-opened drainage ways. 

Within the one year of Governor Ikpeazu, two communities that have hitherto never seen electricity have been lit. He constructed a 33KVA Network New Feeder from Ohiya Power Station in Umuahia South L.G.A to Ntigha in Isialangwa North L.G.A. The Government also undertook the extension of Electricity to Ibeme and Obrette Isiala in Obingwa L.G.A and the Installation of 33KV/300KVA Transmission and Extension of Low Tension Poles to AwomUkwu, Umusokoro in IkwuanoL.G.A within the last 100 days.

For sometime now, the streetlights installed by previous administrations in Abia State have ceased to function at most streets in the State. This has multiple implications of affecting night driving, commercial activities, security at the affected streets and general wellbeing of Abians. Today, a massive exercise is on-going to reactivate the street lights in major cities in Abia State. Similarly, the Governor has issued a directive that every new road being constructed in Abia State must come with a street light.

Likewise major water schemes such as Umuahia have been reactivated. Less than 2 months into his administration water flowed from the Umuahia scheme to homes and schools where the delivery pipes are still intact. Other water schemes like the greater Abiriba water scheme are currently receiving attention..

It is tempting to ask how the Governor is funding such a massive infrastructure development effort with the dwindling allocation the state is receiving. 

In addition to others, it appears to me that prudence in resource management, allocation and the decisive closure of the sycophancy industry in Abia are key factors. 

Immediately after the polls, the Governor signaled his disinterest in sycophantic practices and ordered that all billboards with his face or name be pulled down immediately. He also declined being addressed as "His Excellency" because according to him, "I have not done anything excellent to merit such title yet". He also tactically denied space and patronage  to praise singing organizations that previously littered the state at huge cost to the government and tax payers. 

Additionally, the Governor possibly maintains the leanest convoy among Nigerian Governors. In many instances the Governor has been spotted driving himself to inspect projects and mix up with common folks that he call "Umu Abia Ibem". With a lean convoy, money is saved through buying and maintaining fewer expensive convoy vehicles. There will be savings on fuel and other related expenditure that when added up on monthly basis usually run up to millions that the Governor will rather invest in infrastructure development.

If you attend government events in Abia today you will not find "Okezie youths, Okezie ladies or Okezie vanguard". They have all been asked to go and engage in meaningful vocations as against following the Governor from place to place. Even media owners, especially online media operators, are silently bemoaning lack of patronage from the Okezie Administration with some of them gearing up to launch paid and  unpaid "retaliatory" attacks against his administration to force his hands.

Those who know Dr Okezie Ikpeazu will confirm that while he values positive media support he is not one to waste money to induce positive media reviews or accept paid for awards from sundry groups. His focus is on delivering values to Abia people with the fear of God and he expects his work to speak for him before the people. Of course he will continue to accommodate the fair needs of the men of the 4th estate but surely not at the expense of delivering greater dividends to Abians.

The Governor  has certainly not been a single  agenda leader and is also touching lives in other ways. He is strongly supporting security teams in the state through donation of over 30 communication-gadgets-fitted vehicles to enable extensive urban and rural patrols. Recently, he authorized the demolition of a property used as kidnap den at Nkporo where a kidnap victim was recovered, in line with existing anti-kidnap law of Abia State. 

Additional high-tech security surveillance systems are being procured to enable 247 digital security monitoring of the state. Even the street lighting efforts of his administration targets security improvement and extension of business hours at Aba and Umuahia. Already the governor has authorized deployment of security surveillance cameras at selected locations at Aba and Umuahia alongside other anti-kidnap security infrastructure that he recently procured and handed over to security agencies in the state. 

All those efforts effectively contributed in pegging back kidnapping and armed robbery that recently reared their ugly heads back to Aba in particular.

Under the watch of Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, community policing is being reinvigorated with the state vigilante service expanded through the recent recruitment of additional 7540 men to protect Abia communities. The new recruits are currently undergoing training on how to respond and prevent crimes working with the Nigerian Police and other security agencies.

Operation end kidnapping and armed robbery in Abia is ongoing with good results already delivered, as can be attested to by residents of Aba and Umuahia. Far reaching measures have been taken to protect Abians from Fulani Herdsmen attacks as well as strengthen inter-communal harmony.

It is instructive that visitors to Aba no longer see heaps of refuse along the highway and streets. The state's environmental sanitation agency (ASEPA) has been reorganized and re-energized for greater efficiency with additional equipment provided. Just like week, 4 additional new waste disposal trucks were procured to further improve sanitation in Abia State. Waste conversion plants are ready to make wealth from Abia wastes and private waste collection companies will soon be fully licensed to guarantee a clean Abia.

In the educational sector, teachers welfare, training and improvement of school infrastructure has been prioritized by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu with a view to ensuring that Abia maintains it's number one position in Nigeria as well as lead others with higher margin from that recorded in the last WAEC and JAMB exams. As a leader with teaching background and love for the profession, retraining of teachers and improvement in their welfare is top on his priorities. 

More than 2000 units of computers loaded with digital library books are ready for distribution to schools in Abia. The Governor has also directed that e-library facilities currently at Umuahia be extended to state owned tertiary institutions at Aba, Uturu and Arochukwu to further enhance access to digital learning resources.

In a radical departure from the previous concepts of youth empowerment in the State, Governor Ikpeazu on assumption of office established the novel Education for Employment program (E4E) to train young Abians in relevant skills and assist them to obtain employment or develop themselves as self employed entrepreneurs with active incubation support. This program is well on the way to delivering a minimum of 50,000 jobs by September 2016.

Agriculture is also receiving a boost with the newly launched "back to farm" initiative of the Government. Already members of the state executive council have been mandated by the Governor to "show your farms" in a unique attempt to refocus Abians back to Agriculture. Every Abia family is expected to own and cultivate a farmland regardless of their occupation. 

Large scale organic farming is being pursued aggressively by the Okezie administration through the planned launching of the Abia version of Songhai farms, expected later this year. The Governor took time out to visit Songhai farm at Porto Novo weeks after his inauguration and concluded arrangements to replicate the farm in Abia with even more acreage.

The launching of the Abia industrial cluster has been given further impetus by the recent resolution of the dispute between Geonetrucs and EEDC. Aba is expected to be the first Nigerian city to enjoy uninterrupted power supply. That will naturally support formal and informal businesses at Aba and Umuahia alongside the aggressive made in Aba campaign of the administration that has been applauded across the country with Aba producers reporting higher patronage. 

Furthermore, small scale manufacturers at Aba are receiving government support to procure industrial capacity equipment to support mass production of leather wares and clothing. 

Moribund factories like the Aba glass industry and Golden Guinea breweries have been supported by the Okezie administration to return to production and generate employment and tax revenue for the state. Recently, Aba Glass Industry delivered truckloads of pharmaceutical bottles to Lagos after years of being in limbo. Negotiations and discussions are ongoing to bring back IEA, Modern Ceramics and others. 

Abia is a marginal oil producing state but under Governor Okezie has signaled intention to participate more strongly in oil and gas business. Preliminary work on establishment of a greenfield refinery in Abia has been completed and awaiting licensing clearance. The promise of a sea port at Azumini is receiving critical government support with investors ready to provide needed funding.

In the area of healthcare, the Governor has launched Abia State integrated healthcare project that is aimed at seamlessly delivering Heath care to Abians from health centers to tertiary institutions. The teaching hospital at Aba recently received giant power generators to ensure 247 power availability. New ambulances have been procured and deployed to ensure faster response to emergencies across the state with an emergency call CENTRE already completed within the Abia State E-Library complex to enable quick response to different emergencies.