Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia
With the ground breaking ceremony of the Abia Industrial and Innovation Park (AIIP), the Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, has set off what could be described as the catalyst for the economic growth of the state.
Otti underscored the huge economic benefits of the project sited on 1,000 hectares of land at Owaza, Ukwa West Local Government, saying the state will experience industrial revolution.
The governor, who was visibly excited during the groundbreaking event at the weekend, pointed out that over 10,000 direct and indirect jobs would be generated.
He explained that the AIIP “is conceived to serve as a launch pad for our economic rejuvenation, leveraging the many advantages of (its) location.”
The industrial park is located in the oil producing area of Abia State, hence Otti counted it as an advantage, as well as its central location between two big cities of Aba and Port Harcourt in River State.
Otti also stated that the location of AIIP is ideal because of “abundance of skilled labour and a secure environment for smooth and uninterrupted production and other industrial activities.”
In the speech entitled: ‘Maximising opportunities through partnership’, the former bank executive stated that the project would unlock the economic potential of the state.
According to him, “Our vision is clear and our goal is direct. We want to responsibly harness the abundant oil and gas reserves within Ukwa for the economic development of the communities within the state and the regions connected to this project location.
“At every stage of this project, even before this ground breaking ceremony, jobs will be created, local businesses would be empowered and multiple channels of economic expansion established for entrepreneurs within and outside this immediate community.”
The governor said the AIIP “promises to be a win-win for every stakeholder, especially the host communities that have graciously welcomed us,” adding that the investors would reap bountiful benefits.
He assured the state that investors would not only have a conducive business environment, but also steady power supply, nearness to raw materials, a large population of skilled and unskilled labour.
According to Otti, “The enormous benefits available to investors in the Abia Industrial and Innovation Park are not obtainable in any other location across West Africa.
“The agenda is to build a connected system that offers the advantage of economies of scale to businesses that would be sited here, taking advantage of a systematic network that offers endless enterprise opportunities, residential comfort, and robust infrastructure.”
He arrayed fears of attendant negative environmental impact, assuring the host communities that the government “will work with experts and industry regulators to set up clear guidelines that will drastically minimise damages to the environment.”
Similar grandiose economic projects were initiated by past governments, including the most recent Enyimba Economic City, but they all failed to come to fruition.
However, Otti said his government is doing things differently in the spirit of “the new Abia” hence the AIIP would be realised and would not suffer the fate of past similar projects.
Also, the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, who was on hand to witness the ceremony, lauded Otti for coming up with the idea of AIIP.
He noted that the project embodied the essence of progress, innovation, and economic development, adding that it would place Abia State as a hub for innovation and industrialisation.
Earlier in his address, the Chief Executive Officer of AIIP, Chinedu Onyeizu, described the project as “a strategic business environment for the state to build critical capacity in the areas of manufacturing, modular refineries, establishment of LPG and CNG plants.”
