by Kingsley Maduforo
There are basic essential social amenities that should be in place to enable development to take place. The socio-economic development of a state can be facilitated, even accelerated by the presence of infrastructure. If social amenities are not in place, development would be very difficult to achieve and can be likened to a very scarce commodity that could only be acquired at a very high cost.
The provision of adequate infrastructure alongside economic stability and a long-term developmental plan are among the necessary conditions that must be in place for sustainable socio-economic development to take place. Investing in infrastructures therefore constitutes one of the main mechanisms that increase employment, income and revenue generation, productivity and consequent economic competition.
The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu upon assumption of office made infrastructural development his capital project. This is because he knows that infrastructure represents those types of amenity such as good paved roads, rail system, airport and seaport, effective communication network, strong financial system and power supply, all of which enhance the activities of industries as well as support production and marketing. The Governor also knows that the quality of infrastructures directly affects the rate of economic growth. Hence his resolve to tackle the problem of poor infrastructure in Abia State.
In order to deliver the dividends of democracy and good governance, Gov. Ikpeazu few months into his administration initiated the ‘Caterpillar Revolution’ we are experiencing across the State. For instance, in the area of road construction, Governor Ikpeazu has raised the bar in the quality of built roads by introducing the rigid pavement technology also known as ‘Cement Technology’ into the lexicon of road construction in Abia State. At the moment, work is ongoing on over 30 roads spread across the State while the construction of 36 roads has been completed just within two years of the Ikpeazu-led administration. The good road network we now have in Abia State has brought positive effect on economic activities in the State, increased its IGR and attracted local and foreign investment. When the Governor would have spent four years in office, I tell you, Abia State would have become a heaven on earth.
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s drive for infrastructural renewal and economic growth of the State of Abia has brought about the transformation of the locally Aba-made products into a global brand. Made-in-Aba products have received a proper attention and boost under Dr. Ikpeazu due to the favourable policies that were put in place for the growth of SMEs in the State. The Governor has also established the Public Infrastructure Management Agency whose sole mandate is to maintain and protect public facilities and abandoned properties belonging to the State. His quest towards tackling the problem of youth unemployment led him to initiate the Education for Empowerment (E4E) program which is designed to train registered students in skills and vocations that would make them self-reliant entrepreneurs.
Extensive and good infrastructures are required for the effective functioning of the economy because they are determinants of the location of economic activities as much as they also determine the kind of activity or economic sector(s) that would rapidly develop a particular economy. In this regard, Aba being the money bag of the State has witnessed a huge renewal because Gov. Ikpeazu fearlessly tackled the infrastructural decay that had ravaged the city, bearing in mind that good and proper infrastructure is a great necessity and a great gain to the citizenry.
Indeed, the presence of good infrastructure such as good road network has succeeded in reducing the effect of distance between Abia and other neighbouring States and also in connecting the State at low cost to markets outside. Truly, good transportation and communication network facilities access to rural communities and remote areas where economic activities take place.
Obviously, the economic growth the State of Abia is experiencing now is attributable to the quality and extensive nature of the infrastructural developmental stride of Gov. Ikpeazu’s administration. The provision of infrastructures has indeed been boosted by this good workman.
Dr. Jeffrey Delmon, Senior Infrastructure Specialist of the World Bank reveals that “poor infrastructure impedes a nation’s economic growth and international competitiveness.” In other words, good infrastructure accelerates a nation’s economic growth and international competitiveness. Therefore in order to stimulate economic growth and reduce poverty, the provision of good infrastructure should be made an exigency just as our Dear Governor done. What more should Abians ask for!
Kingsley Maduforo is a SA to Gov. Ikpeazu on Media
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