• Police to use made-in-Aba kits
From Ogbonnaya Ndukwe, Aba
Things are looking up for Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State. Governor Alex Otti, on Thursday, announced that the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) has agreed to use “Abia made” products as part of its kits.
The news came as government worked towards bringing positive changes in agencies and institutions, including sanitising markets and rebuilding dilapidated infrastructure.
Otti stated this at the certification of appointed patrons and stakeholders of Eziukwu Road Market, at Aba Sports Club (1926).
He stated that his administration will always initiate legacies that will improve the people’s wellbeing.
According to him, the flag off of the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road in the commercial city, was the beginning of greater things to come to elevate the standards of living for the residents.
Otti challenged them to support the government in achieving its ambition towards bringing positive change and transforming Abia into a peaceful, investment-friendly and conducive environment.
He called on them to assist by paying their taxes as at when due: “We want international standards and practices in our markets and other institutions. We are trying to bring positive change and will continue until we succeed.
“Believe in us, we’ll get the backing to build a new, transformed Abia State. We appreciate how our markets are currently being organized, it is for this cause that the administration appointed known traders as commissioner and leaders of the various markets in the state.”
The governor had at the road flag-off ceremony tasked Julius Berger to break the dilapidation jinx of Port Harcourt Road in Aba. He charged the firm to build a solid road that will revive the long-abandoned economic activities along the area.
He noted that the reconstruction of the 6.7 kilometre road was yet another strategic step in fulfilling one of his major campaign promises
Otti noted that artisanship and other major business activities along Port Harcourt Road once gave Aba a set of peculiar advantages, starting from the early 1980s when Chief Sam Mbakwe, Governor of old Imo State, constructed the road to allow Abians access to the oil industrial complex in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
“For about two decades, it was all bliss and blush for businesses around this area until things began to fall apart in the mid to late 1990s, followed quickly by the unfortunate collapse and abandonment of the 2000s.
“Nothing seemed to work thereafter. In time, the businesses, including those that had their corporate headquarters around here began to disappear, finding more favourable locations as it became clear that succeeding administrations did not have the will to make the right commitments to restore this stretch of road and sustain its economic advantages; until today.
“For us, Port Harcourt Road, Aba, is not just any other project, it will be a testament of our willingness and determination to ‘rebuild ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated’ as contained in Isaiah 61: 4.”
Otti expressed optimism that on completion, the reconstructed Port Harcourt Road will drive the economic rejuvenation of the resilient city of Aba and send a clear message to the businesses that had left that the “Elephant is back on its feet, never to stumble again.”
The N30billion project billed to for completion in 18 months will also include flood control outlet within the Uratta, Ohabiam and Ndiegoro flood-ravaged axis of Aba.
Immediate past National President, Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Ide John Udeagbala, who chaired the event thanked Otti for the positive change he has brought to reposition the state in just four months in office as governor.
Udeagbala promised the total support of Aba residents to the Alex Otti-led administration to enable it succeed in its endeavours.
General Chairman, Aba Market Traders Association/Chairman, Interim Management Committee, Eziukwu Road Market, Chief Alphonsus Udeigbo, said Otti’s emergence, was an answer by God. He noted that the people had prayed and seen him as one that was fully equipped for the office, in view of the wisdom he exhumed during interactions with the people in the electioneering.
Udeigbo said the joy of Aba residents and those visiting the commercial city will know no bounds when the Port Harcourt Road reconstruction would have been realized. He promised to always protect government’s interests, while managing the market, its traders and the teeming visitors.
Meanwhile, Aba residents and indeed Abians have extolled the governor for bringing a reputable construction firm, Julius Berger, to reconstruct the major access road in the industrial area of Aba.
For President General, Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), Goodluck Ibem: “Otti, has broken the jinx of being the governor to bring the construction firm of Julius Berger, to the Southeast to work on any of its roads.”
Ibem lauded the governor and his administration for the feat and particularly, coming to bring back Port Harcourt Road, thereby repositioning the State and the accessway as a major link between many Southeastern and South South cities using Aba to connect with each other.