ABIA REBIRTH AND ITS IMPLICATIONS – HON. OBINNA ORIAKU.

#AbiaOnline
It appears Abia State’s time for all round rapid development has come faster than most anticipated. A total rebirth of God’s own state is unfolding before our eyes.
This can be attributed to the sincerity of purpose and doggedness of the current leadership in the state. It’s effort in righting the wrongs that have bedeviled the state, since creation, is gradually yielding positive results.
Recently, the state has been in the news for all the right reasons including the now internationalized made in Aba products promotion that has attracted interests from organizations like Ford Foundation USA. These positive developments have in turn triggered a lot of interests from investors to donor agencies that are ready to partner with the state in its efforts towards a total rebirth.
Few weeks ago, the World Bank extended support to the state with the sum of USD54m under the NEWMAP for flood control and erosion project. This facility is expected to complement what the state Govt has stated at Ifeobara basin with extension to Uratta, Umuagbai in PH road and Ndiegoro area around Ngwa Road axis. The project is also expected to extend to some gully erosion sites around Umuahia, Nsulu and Ohafia LGA.
There is no gainsaying the fact that these interventions will place the state on a higher pedestal for further development. As we all know, infrastructural development in a young state like Abia will enable other developments including agriculture, industrialization, trade and commerce.
The State is also at the verge of accessing USD 63m from same world bank for rural access mobility programme which will help in opening up rural roads and aid interconnectivity of state roads which have been a major challenge in the state.
It is important we point out that it is this kind of support that made Anambra the most inter connected State in the south East.
Abia’s time has come.
All these wouldn’t have been possible without the leadership, support and efforts of the visionary Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, who on assumption of office visited the World Bank and AfDB to sale the State and the need to support his government’s developmental efforts.
Of course those who have worked with or listened to Governor Ikpeazu will readily agree that he is one of the best salesmen around, especially with his passionate focus on development issues, as you can’t but buy into his usually well articulated but humbly presented pitches.
While still savouring the euphoria of NEWMAP’s support, our funding request is currently among the $1.5b external loan request pending with the National Assembly. The AfDB loan, though wrongly stated in recent media publications, is for $200m that will be devoted to Abia integrated development program. The facility will be used to upgrade roads, drainage systems and sanitation projects within our cities. It is the first integrated development project being undertaken by AfDB in the state and possibly Nigeria. Some components of this facility are grants which will definitely take Abia to the next developmental level at an accelerated rate.
Furthermore, the World Bank is also supporting the state in capacity building for our civil service through the good governance program recently endorsed by the state.
The World Bank is also set to support Abia State in its efforts towards revamping our different water schemes that are targeted at making portable water available in Abia homes.
Indeed, these are good times for Abia, as these development agencies had hitherto shut their doors against Abia. Even in the health sector, our ABSECA is at the verge of accessing $20m facility for our HIV containment and prevention program.
It will be recalled that earlier in the Ikpeazu administration, the state received $1.5m for the “save a million life” program.
Better days are indeed ahead for Abians and we can only sit down, work harder and see all these unfold. Abia is truly in safe hands with Governor Ikpeazu whose untiring efforts and passion for the development of the state is palpable and can be felt even by the blind.
God bless Abia State.