Otti equips Abia lawmakers for oversight functions, presents them with 24 brand new vans
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has presented 24 brand new Roxettes Utility Pick-Up Vans to the 24 House of Assembly members in the state to aid their oversight functions.
The vans were locally assembled in the state.
Presenting the keys of the vans to the Speaker of the 8th State House of Assembly, RT. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, Governor Otti said the gesture was in fulfillment of the promise he made to the state lawmakers to equip them with operational vehicles.
“I promised that I was going to make available a truck for each of you for your over-sight functions,” the Governor recalled, noting that the vans were locally-produced, in furtherance of his policy of patronizing indigenous manufacturers to make them to improve on their qualities.
He disclosed that the manufacturer being an indigene of the State from Umunneochi Local Government Area, was on the verge of completing his factory in Obuaku in Ukwa West LGA; adding that the access road leading to the factory was nearing completion.
Governor Otti said that his administration was committed to up-scaling the quality of indigenous products to encourage local production and patronage, adding that efforts were on top gear to make indigenous manufacturers to be confident in their products.
“This vehicle was assembled in Abia State by Rosettes and its workshop is already in place in Ohiya, in Umuahia while the factory is in Ukwa. This is all geared towards supporting local manufacturing and local value added
“I have a policy of patronizing indigenous manufacturers of anything if they are available. It’s only when we don’t have things that are made here and the policy seems to be working.
“We see a lot of people improve on their products, particularly in Aba. What we are doing with them now is to encourage them to be bold enough to write their names instead of writing Prada and Gucci or Fendi,” Gov. Otti said.
He also disclosed that Government was also supporting indigenous manufacturers in terms of quality for export purposes and announced ongoing efforts to establish an export growth lab in the state, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme.
“I’m sure you have read that we are trying to establish an export growth lab and UNDP has promised to support us.
“We can up-scale the quality of the products coming from here, our people are fantastic, there is nothing that they can’t produce with their hands, they only need little support,” Gov. Otti said.
Responding, the Deputy Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Augustine Meregini, on behalf of his colleagues, thanked the Governor for the vehicles and said that this was the second vehicle the Governor would be giving to members of the 8th State House of Assembly.
He assured the Governor of continued unity in the State House of Assembly, saying “the House is more unified now.”
“We want to assure you, just as we assured you earlier, that the House is unified now, courtesy of your leadership and we are all working on the same page, irrespective of party differences.
“In fact, in the 8th Assembly, we don’t have parties anymore because we have our eyes on the ball and that has happened because of your leadership.
“Because we have come to know and to realize that you want to uplift Abians, so, we are united in that cause and we want to assure you that we will continue to support you,” Meregini assured.
