Abia to revitalize Osisioma Industrial Layout, build new ones; turn Umuahia to smart city

From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

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Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, during the news briefing on State Executive Council meeting, Monday

Moribund Osisioma Industrial Layout in Aba is to be revived and new ones built across the state, the state government has revealed, saying it was part of the plans to make the state investors’ destination choice.

The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday while briefing journalists at Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti. He added that government was also working on plans to make Umuahia, the state capital, a smart city. 

The Commissioner said that the plans were in keeping with the broad economic development agenda of the Governor Alex Otti-led administration in the state. 

According to Prince Kanu, the state government would furnish the industrial layouts with all necessary infrastructure needed to attract investors to establish their businesses in those layouts, noting that the provision of these facilities would make conduct of businesses in the layouts without any impediments.

The Commissioner also explained what the government wants to achieve in the industrial layouts, saying: “Most importantly, the State government wants to consolidate Aba as a business hub and Abia State generally as an investors’ haven.

“So, the road infrastructure being provided by the state government, the provision of security, provision of power, like we have in Geometrics, the ease of doing business improvements, all these factors add up into making Abia State an investors’ delight.”

“In the next few weeks and months, government would pursue this idea with vigour to ensure that the layouts are put in place,” he assured.

The Abia Information boss also disclosed the plans of Abia State government to make Umuahia a smart city, stressing that government would soon activate its plans to redesign and beautify the Isigate area of the state capital and make it fit for a smart city.

“This plan has been on the drawing board for quite a while but in the coming months, government will take its plans off the drawing board. A committee has all the while been working towards providing solutions that would make that part of the state capital look better than it actually does now.”

Prince Okey Kanu announced that Abia state government will on Tuesday, 9th April 2023 officially roll out the operations of the Harmonized Task Force recently set up to deal permanently with touting, extortion and harassment of citizens and residents in the state. 

According to him, the event would hold simultaneously in Aba and Umuahia. 

“The focus will be on Umuahia and Aba as  all members of the Harmonized Task Force, the Magistrates, the Area and Zonal Coordinators and all the operatives involved are expected to participate fully in the exercise tomorrow (Tuesday , 9th of April, 2024)”

Prince Okey Kanu was flanked by the Commissioner for Land and Housing, Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma.