From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Abia State Government is partnering UN-Habitat to produce the first master plan for three Abia cities. The cities are Aba, Umuahia, the state capital and Ohafia.
This was disclosed by the Director General of the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA), Uche Ukeje while declaring open the Greater Aba Metropolitan Master Plan Final Validation workshop in Aba.
Ukeje stated that the master plan being handled by UN-Habitat, will be on display in some public places for the people to make their inputs after which it will be sent to Abia House of Assembly for it to have legal backing.
“People are expected to make their inputs to the master plan now because after some months, every decision taken about the master plan and the development of Aba will no longer change because it will be frozen by law.
“We are going to make laws to back up the Aba master plan to prevent it from being abused by people in the future.”
While explaining government’s intention to create more districts for the city of Aba as contained in the master plan, Ukeje hinted of plans to relocate the Ngwa Road (Ahia Ohuru) Market to the present site of the School of Health Technology, to create room for the expansion of Enyimba International Stadium.
He announced that the School of Health will be relocated to Obingwa Local Government Area which was government’s original plan.
Paul Okunlole, national coordinator of UN-Habitat said they are working in collaboration with the Abia State to draw up a master plan that will make the city one of the most vibrant in the world.
Okunlole disclosed that Aba had no master plan before now, adding that with what they are putting in place, no building will be demolished during the implementation phase of the master plan except those built without approval, particularly on waterways.
He said the next phase of the exercise will be carried out in Umuahia and Ohafia.
A special planner at the UN-Habitat headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, Miss Jane Muriuki said the 25 year master plan when implemented will transform Aba to a global city.
Luis Gilio, a UN-Habitat urban planner told the participants that since Aba is 60 percent hot than most parts of its surrounding because of its high density population, the city will be made greenery.
Some of the participants, including Dr. Emmanuel Ezani, chairman, Nigerian Society of Engineers and Kingsley Madumere, former chairman, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, praised Abia state Government and UN-Habitat for their efforts in coming up for a master plan Aba and other cities in Abia State.