We’re focused on Abia Economic Plan –   Ikpeazu

By Ugochukwu Ugoji-Eke, Umuahia

Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu says his administration is focused on its economic plan, geared towards massive job creation and enhancing the wellbeing of the people of the state.

The governor stated this when he received a delegation of the South East National Economic Council Implementation Committee at Government Lodge, Aba.

Ikpeazu noted that his administration’s development is hinged on five pillars and has vigorously pursued it with the aim of bringing development to all facets of the state’s economy.

He also pointed out that his administration has created enabling environment for businesses to thrive thereby attracting investors as well as empowering the youths through creation of various industrial clusters, and skills acquisition programmes in leather works, garment and automated shoe making and agriculture thus creating job opportunities for the teeming youths.

According to Ikpeazu, his government embarked on aggressive construction of link roads to major economic zones in Abia to drive trade and commerce which he said are the main fulcrum of the state’s economy.

He said, “We are focused on our economic plans and all the roads were are doing are enablers.

“The roads we do in Abia are of economic value to create access for trade and commerce which is the major fulcrum of the state’s economy.

“All of the things we do in technical education and health are to support the economic development in the areas of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises. We are focused on bringing a private sector driven economy and we are building to last”.

The governor used the occasion to highlight the achievements recorded by his administration in the areas of road infrastructure, youth empowerment, agriculture and security among others. He restated his commitment and support to the promotion and expansion of made in Abia products and expressed delight that Abia is the Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) capital of Nigeria.

He disclosed that plans are underway to establish a garment factory in Abia, to complement the already established shoe factory, well as an agro allied cottage industry in 10 out of the 17 local government areas of the state before the end of the year which he said will focus on oil palm processing, cassava, rice milling, amongst others.

Earlier, the Team lead, South East National Economic Council (NEC) Implementation Monitoring Committee, Mark Okoye recalled that the council at a special retreat in 2016 adopted a 71 point resolution covering seven major thematic areas such as agriculture, revenue generation, infrastructure, empowerment, industrialization which are to be adopted by states to enhance rapid and sustainable economic development in response to the economic downturn in the country.

Okoye, who is also the Anambra State commissioner for budget and planning, said they were touring states of the South East including Abia to monitor the extent of execution of National Economic Council decisions in terms of project implementation and ensure that the states are in tandem with the 71 NEC resolutions.

He commended Ikpeazu for his achievements in the state especially in the area of infrastructure development, youth empowerment programmes, and agriculture as well as the use of indigenous contractors in the execution of road projects.

Okoye said, “We saw quite impressive projects. We saw impacts on the lives of the people. You are doing quality roads and we are impressed from what we are able to see today.

“More grease to your elbow for the transformation you are doing in the state, it is there for all to see. We will do our best in terms of putting this in our report”.

The team had earlier inspected some of the projects done by the Ikpeazu administration in company of the Executive Secretary, Abia State Planning Commission, Dr. Nnenna Chikezie; Permanent Secretary, Government House Umuahia, Alozie Odoemela as well as Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment, Iheanyichukwu Uba, amongst other government functionaries.