Gov Alex Otti of Abia State has commenced the demolition of 130 buildings in the state to flag off the construction of a six-lane road project in Umuahia, which is aimed at opening up the capital city for development.

Some owners of the demolished structures, especially those at Okigwe Motor Park, were seen shedding tears as the bulldozers crushed their properties.

While flagging off the project, Otti, in his address, explained that the road expansion was in line with his administration’s plan to transform the state capital city into a modern town.

He pointed out that the road, when completed, would give the Abia capital a new face and enhance its beauty.

Speaking on some challenges encountered during the conceptualizing period of the project, the governor said some villagers pleaded that they should be allowed to exhume and re-bury their dead relatives, but owners of the 130 structures marked for demolition have already been compensated.

In his speech, Eze Emelike Chiabuotu of the Ossah community commended the governor for commencing the construction of a significant road project from his kingdom, saying that the project would transform his area when completed.

Meanwhile, bulldozers from the Abia State Ministry of Works in Umuahia and officials of Umuahia Capital Development Authority, UCDA, have swung into action, demolishing the structures marked by the Ministry of Works.