Abia State Government says the time has come to put an industrial policy in place, one that will drive the state’s industrial development.
The state’s Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Tuesday while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting held on Monday and chaired by the state governor, Alex Otti.
Kanu informed, “The state government believes that the time has come for an industrial policy to be put in place, an industrial policy that will drive the industrial development of the state as it were. The state government, through its ease of doing business agency, has done quite well to enhance the ease of doing business environment in the state.”
He further explained, “Consequently, a new industrial policy together with a very conducive ease of doing business environment will help attract investors and development to the state. Such an industrial policy will help the state to market its potential while strengthening its comparative advantage in various areas of resource availability and management.
“To bring this policy to fruition, the state government has set up a committee to drive the process of drawing up this policy”, stating that in the coming weeks, when the policy is ready, it will be launched.
The state information boss also disclosed that, in line with the ongoing urban renewal and transformation initiative of the state government, the state government has initiated “an addressing infrastructure program” that is aimed at enhancing street naming, house numbering, and geo-reference addressing that will ensure order and economic growth of the state for easy identification of structures.
He explained, “Our streets are not well named, they are not well numbered, and that creates a lot of confusion. So the state government has come up with an initiative to address this gap”.
Prince Kanu further informed that the state government has concluded plans to execute a long-term development program or plan for 2025 to 2050, stating, “to get the plan going, different aspects of governance in the state must be addressed to drive the plan.
“Planning, security, logistics, and digital services to a larger extent depend on clear locations and addresses. You can imagine where there is a fire somewhere, and you are directing the fire service to come there, and there is no street address.
“You begin to say, if you get to that junction, you cross over there. Many of our urban areas still lack standardized street names and house numbers. Standardized street naming and house numbering create a sense of order that, obviously, incentivizes investors.
“Without street names and addresses, the following problems will arise: emergency services will lose time, planning data will be fragmented, and revenue systems leak. Logistics and commerce are slowed down. Investors face a lot of uncertainty, and obviously, there will be difficulty in the delivery of social services.
“In view of the importance that the state government attaches to this program, the three development areas of the state, GADA (Greater Aba Development Authority), UCDA (Umuahia Capital Development Authority), and GODA (Greater Ohafia Development Authority), will own this project. The state government will soon appoint a project manager to help manage and drive this very important project.”
Prince Kanu also informed that during the period under review, the state Ministry of Works embarked on direct labor works in 49 locations, and that work is going on very well at different locations in the state, adding that since inception on the 24th of December, about 77774 people have so far enjoyed its green shuttle bus services.
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