The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, has described as one of the most fulfilling in his tenure, the coming investment from Ruyi Group, a China-based investment company and other investors in the Enyimba Economic City which the governor said will outlive his administration and further confirm Abia State as the new preferred destination for investment in Nigeria.
The breakthrough recorded by the government through the signing of memoranda of understanding with key global economic players confirms the stand of the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, when he commended Ikpeazu for his business-like approach to governance.
Enyimba Economic City, which is an initiative of the State Governor and has been marked by the Federal Government as a major Economic Zone, is coming at a time Igbos need a global business hub in the Southeast.
The hub will be developed in an area covering about 9,803 hectares of land, cutting across three local government areas of Ukwa East and West, and Ugwunagbo in Abia State.
The location is such that output and input of resources will be properly harnessed with access to three Airports within a short driving distance connecting more than 6 major cities in the entire Southeast and South south areas of the country.
From the mission Statement, the hub is expected to be a central business point linking up the nine southeast and south south states with high grade access roads, rails, airport and seaports that will further transform the region into a manufacturing and industrial powerhouse, with ancillary drivers of commerce, logistics, entertainment, education, health and lifestyle living.
Another cheery news is the understanding reached by the China’s largest textile manufacturer, Ruyi Group, and Geometric Power Company, Aba, to line up plans to provide uninterrupted power supply, which is one of the key drivers of the business hub especially the textile unit.
Construction of the first 4-star hotel in the site to accommodate workers and expatriates will begin in earnest. It is also understood that a licence for the building of two higher institutions at the hub has been secured. This is a show of seriousness on the part of the investors who are expected to arrive Abia State in some couple of days to do a proper costing of infrastructures expected on the site.
With revered individuals like Dr Pascal Dozie, Mr. C. Darl Uzu, Prof Barth Nnaji, Dr.Paul Ananaba SAN, Prof. Anya O. Anya, Dr. Abraham Nwankwo and Amb. Empire Kanu as part of the major players in the realization of this noble project, it is a heartwarming news that the Enyimba Economic City will materialize earlier than expected.
In the same vein, Abia government has completed payment for automated machines for shoe making as earlier promised. The China trip afforded Dr Ikpeazu the opportunity to make the final payment for the procurement of high grade machines for automated shoe making.
Recall that the first batch of 30 Abians went to China to acquire and enhance their skills on automated shoe making some months ago so as to improve on the processes of shoe making, which is a drive away from manual production to improved qualities that will increase production and patronage and profitability.
Another cheery news is that the machines are on their way to Aba for installation at the first ever Abia automated shoe factory in the entire Southeast.
With such assurance of quality and quantity, market value for made in Aba shoes will increase as well as revenue for the state. This is a sharp definition of business approach to governance.
The various interventions by the state government, will continue to yield results especially in the area of job creation and youth development.
These positive developments are not surprising to majority of Abians who believe in Ikpeazu’s leadership potentials and those that know him as someone who does not play petty politics with the development of the region and Nigeria at large.
Ikpeazu is only interested in whatever will benefit Abians. Like it was pointed out in my previous article, despite being a PDP governor, he maintains a good relationship with the government at the center, on whose collaboration he has been able to initiate projects that have benefitted and continue to benefit Abians including the new bride which is the Enyimba Economic City.
