Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, has pushed for the immediate flag-off and delivery of the proposed N20 billion Aba Commercial Smart City project, saying the initiative would be a game changer for the commercial hub.
Governor Otti stated this on Friday at Government House, Umuahia, during a meeting with the leadership of Aba Commercial Smart City, where he directed the State Director-General of Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Mr Chinedu Chijioke to work out the details and facilitate the commencement of the project.
The governor urged the project partners to fast-track their plans, stressing that his administration would not embark on projects it could not complete.
He said, “We have been on this Smart City project like the Ultimate Commander himself said, after the last meeting we needed to move from the drawing board to implementation.
“The only way to implement a project is when there is funding. You can have beautiful visions, they remain visions, they can’t be project until there is money.
“I am happy that we are at that point where a lot of efforts have been made. In Abia State, we don’t have abandon projects, any project that we cannot see to the delivery, does not even kick-start.
“That’s the reputation we have built, so we are not going to depart from it. So it would be nice to fast-track what you are doing so that we can get to the point of flag-off and it’s only when we have flagged-off that people will begin to expect completion”.
Governor Otti said the project had the potential to transform Aba if delivered as envisaged, noting that the concept aligns with the global shift towards technology-driven and smart urban development.
“It promises to be a game changer if we deliver what we had discussed earlier. That’s the direction the world is going, technology, everything smart.
“So if there is anything we can do to fast-track it, I am happy to do that”, the governor said.
He expressed satisfaction with the progress made by the promoters and assured them of the state government’s support towards moving the project from planning to implementation.
In his speech, the Chief Executive Officer of Aba Commercial Smart City and former Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo, said the project would help restore Aba to its former glory and commended the governor for his administration’s efforts in transforming the state.
“This vision will bring back Aba. This project alone, in addition to the myriad of things you (Gov. Otti) have done, will have your name engraved. This is a project that all of us need to support”, Prof Nebo said.
He also commended the state’s PPP office and other members of the Abia State Government team for what he described as their professionalism in handling the project.
Earlier, the Board of Trustees member of Aba Commercial Smart City and former Inspector-General of Police, Sir Mike Okoro and the founder/ President of Aba Commercial Smart City, Ambassador Osita Offor, said the delegation was at Government House in response to the governor’s earlier directive to present a financially viable plan for the project.
They informed the governor that, through their financial adviser and partner banks, they had secured a financial commitment of N20 billion for the project
They also thanked Governor Otti for providing the enabling environment and allowing the promoters to advance the project.
