Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has called on the Board and Management of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) to prioritize Power Supply as a critical driver of industrialization and economic growth in the region.
Governor Otti made the appeal on Thursday when he received a delegation from the SEDC at his country home in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South LGA.
The visit was part of the Commission’s ongoing tour of South East Governor’s to align their administrations with SEDC’s development blueprint.
Governor Otti emphasized that stable Power Supply is essential for businesses to thrive and for the region to reclaim its industrial glory.
“Every input people make towards industrialization and manufacturing is Power. These are the kind of investments that Governments should make.
“If you solve that problem, you probably have solved about 60- 70% of people’s problems.
“Our people have worked very hard to reintergrate themselves. Our economy is an economy that does not really have room for palliatives.
“All our people want is that you create enabling environment for their businesses to thrive and they will sort themselves out”, he stated.
Governor Otti who highlighted his administration’s commitment to improving Power Supply supply, revealed that Abia State is on the verge of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Geometric Power Aba to distribute excess electricity generated by the plant to Umuahia and its environs.
The Governor commended the National Assembly for the swift approval of the South East Development Commission, describing it as long overdue and expressed optimism that the Commission would play a pivotal role in reintegrating the South East into National Development Initiatives.
He emphasized the need for collaborative efforts to advance the development of the South East and pledged his administration’s readiness to partner with the Commission in key areas.
“I want to thank you for the visit and for hitting the ground running very quickly. I want to assure you that you’ll get the maximum support from us in this government”, Governor Otti pledged.
The Chairman of the SEDC, Chief Emeka Wogu, in his address, acknowledged Governor Otti’s dedication to infrastructural development in Abia State.
He assured that the Commission is committed to addressing the developmental challenges facing the region, bridging gaps created by years of neglect and driving sustainable progress through the mandate of reconstruction, reconciliation, rehabilitation and reintegration.
Also, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the SEDC, Dr. Mark Okoye, while presenting the Commission’s strategic roadmap, emphasized that the goal is to revive the South East’s economy to its former status as the fastest-growing regional economy, leveraging the zone’s strengths in Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Agriculture.
