We need your expertise to quicken establishment of Abia Industrial Park, Otti tells NCDMB
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, says the state would soon make a formal request to the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) to provide their expertise that would help fast-track the development of Abia Industrial and Innovation Park (AIIP) in Owaza of Ukwa West Local Government Area of the State.
Receiving a delegation of the Nigeria Content Development and Monitory Board led by the Executive Secretary Engr. Felix Ogbe, who paid him a working visit on Friday 6th September, Governor Otti said he was happy with the commitment of NCDMB to ensure that the AIIP, a signature project of his administration, was realized.
Recall that Governor Otti had, on September 30, 2023, performed the groundbreaking ceremony of AIIP some months ago, an event which attracted the presence of the representatives of the federal government, captains of industries and financiers, among others.
The Governor told the NCDMB team that government has acquired 2, 000 hectares of land for the AIIP and the Certificate of Occupancy already issued while money for payment of compensation to the landlords, if it has not been paid, was available.
He added that the state was now waiting for the NCDMB to come in with its expertise.
“What we have done is to create the enabling environment because we are a private sector-led government. We know that Government is there to support and grow businesses. That is why we have already acquired the almost 2000 hectares of land. We have already issued the Certificate Occupancy to AIIP, so the land is available.
“Arrangements have also been concluded and I believe that the Original owners of the land, if they have not received their compensation, will receive it in no distant future because the money has been made available,” Dr. Otti said while addressing the delegation.
“So, we are very happy to partner with you and you can be sure that we will do everything that is possible to ensure that this project takes off and lands successfully.
“So, in the next few days, you will receive our written request. But in spite of that, we will continue to do what we have to do to ensure that the project continues to run until you come in to give us a push we require”, he added.
The Governor he was happy with the commitment of Engr. Felix Ogbe and his team to seeing that the project succeeded.
Earlier in his presentation, the Chief Executive Officer of Abia Industrial and Innovation Park, Engr. Chinedu Onyeizu, had explained some features of the project, including the location of the park, its viability with the abundance of gas in Owaza and the socio-economic benefits to Abia and Nigeria as a whole, which includes creation of thousands of jobs.
In his speech, Engr. Felix Ogbe commended Governor Otti for his efforts to establish an Industrial Park, saying that in some states, NCDMB go to establish industrial parks without the efforts of the state governments but in Abia, the story is peculiar and different as the state government was the one pushing and making the efforts. He expressed optimism that the project would succeed.
Engr. Ogbe said he came in fulfillment of his promise to the Governor to come and know what the State was doing and how the state and NCDMB would partner in establishing the Industrial Park.
He assured that once he receives the Abia’s proposal, he would take it to the Board for discussion, describing the AIIP as a project worth doing.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Citizen Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, quoted the NCDMB boss as saying: “So, if I get the proposal, what I will do is to take it back to my board. I have a Governing Board that I need to talk to. But, I will tell you that I think it’s something worth doing. So, I will have a session with the Board and I will come back to His Excellency to tell him our position and what we intend to do.”
