Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu says his ambition is to have an Abia where its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will be higher than the national average.
Governor Ikpeazu was speaking when a delegation of the Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND) visited to submit the draft plan for the Abia State Long Term Development Plan at Government House Umuahia.
He pleged the commitment of his administration towards the implementation of the Abia State Long Term Development Plan.
The Governor who noted that he strongly believes that problems must be diagnosed and solved empirically, judging from his background as a Scientist, pointed out that he dreams to see Abia become a strong economic hub in the nearest future through the Enyimba Economic City Project.
Dr. Ikpeazu also said that his administration will take steps to get the plan working as well as get the State on the path of sustainable growth based on a homegrown plan, stressing that such will be one of the major interventions of his Government.
He stressed the need for the interest of people to be captured and challenged the implementors of the plan to be more committed and resilient.
Earlier, the Executive Director Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND), Dr Dara Akala explained that the Foundation is a social enterprise established by Chevron Nigeria in 2012 that focuses on development across the Niger Delta region using a multi-sectoral approach.
He said that PIND is committed to supporting the State through close partnership with the Abia State Planing Commission, adding that the 2020-2050 Long Term Development Plan for the State is produced by Abians for Abians to guide their development.
Dr Akara said that it is important for government to adopt a demand-led approach in implementing the plan, maintaining that the issues of access to Agricultural land, multiple taxation, security should considered to engender development and promote a stable environment.
Also Speaking, the Executive Secretary Abia State Planning Commission, Dr Mrs Nnenna Chikezie hinted that the work plan had twelve thematic areas including Education, Infrastructure, Health, Gas and Oil, adding that stakeholders from the three senatorial zones of the state made their inputs towards the production of the Abia Long Term Development Draft Plan.
On his part, the Director General of the Abia State Marketing and Quality Assurance Agency, Barr. Sam Hart, while gving an overview of the programme, explained that PIND which is responsible for the development in the nine Niger Delta States, held the Niger Delta Development Forum where Abia emerged as the State with the best development plan in 2018 which prompted the resolve of PIND to partner the State in the development of the long term development plan.
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