Abia rebuilds infrastructure.

Abia rebuilds infrastructure

Dualised Bende Road

 

Abia State Governor Theodore Orji has said the state overcame its security challenges to start rebuilding it.

  Kidnapping, robbery and murder once tarnished the image of the state and also scared off investors and undermined even regular business activities. 

  As a result, the state and local governments could not provide  basic social services in health, education, water supply and sanitation. To worsen the situation, most of its basic infrastructure was flattened. Lack of adequate sanitation, potable water and electricity in addition to substandard housing and overcrowding aggravated the challenge. 

   Today, the governor told journalists, Aba is secure and business and investment confidence returning. 

Across Umuahia, the reduction in crimianl activities is remarkable. There were crackdowns on local gangs in addition to other security measures. 

In recognition of this, the National Council for Unity and Peace (NCUP) has conferred on the governor the award of the National Ambassador for Peace. 

Governor Orji said the state’s allocation from the Federal Government is a mere N3.1b while it pays N2.6b a month in salaries. He also said his administration has greatly improved the state’s internally generated revenue profile, making N500m monthly as against N150m or N200m in the past.

Now, there are developmental projects across the state spanning  health and education, revival of domestic markets, support for agriculture, and job creation, especially for young people. He said the state was ready to provide at least the minimum conditions for human sustenance. He said the government has already begun the process of rebuilding itself through construction of basic facilities. 

Orji said the state is undergoing its largest urban redevelopment boom. These include a Government House, judicial headquarters, and administrative complex for the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State and the secretariat. The governor said the development was necessary to bring people,  jobs and life back to the state. Abia is a clear picture of how much the basics matter: cost of living, job quality, schools, and opportunities to develop the right skills for the best jobs. 

Orji said the government is also rebuilding the suburbs through construction and restoration projects.  The state capital, Umuahia, is rebuilding itself, with one construction project at a time.  

Having restored security, the government has now delved into rehabilitating the decayed infrastructures as well as providing new ones to make the state work again.    The state has been working on rebuilding leaky and antiquated sewer lines. Workers have to redirect channels draining to to the city’s canal system. The government wants to prevent progressive deterioration of the drainage system and find a way to control future growth. 

The government’s biggest challenge remains flood control and financing of projects which will require millions of naira to rebuild underground arteries. 

On access to safe drinking water, the governor said his administration is working to bring relief to the people. 

Various projects are going on in Aba to restore the glory of the commercial city. Among the prominent ones is the reconstruction of the Ukwu Mango Road, which links the popular Ariaria International Market with the rest of the city. The road was abandoned for years. There is also the construction of a pedestrian bridge in front of the Abia State Polytechnic to ensure the safety of students and the de-silting of the School Road/East drainage system.    

The government is building a central motor park at Osisioma, along the Port Harcourt-Enugu Express Road. Journalists visited the central motor park whose construction is nearing completion. The project will decongest the city which has numerous chaotic motor parks scattered all over the town with its attendant nuisance. 

Aside the many road contracts awarded and those where actual construction work is going on in Aba, including the completed popular and busy Faulks Road, other equally important ongoing projects include the construction of a massive auditorium at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital, (ABSUTH), Aba. 

Also, the dignity of Ariaria International Market is being restored  as the government has embarked on the rehabilitation of the dilapidated internal roads in the popular market. He  said the state is building an International Conference Centre with the capacity to seat over 3500 participants,while the old and existing workers’ secretariat is having a touch of modernity so as to synchronise with the emerging new look at Ogwurube Layout where the amazing Central Bank of Nigeria and the re-built Customary Court of Appeal are situated.

A short distance from the Customary Court of Appeal,the government has laid  the foundation stone for a new Government House in Umuahia. 

Transport Commissioner, Chief Ukpai Agwu Ukpai warned operators of illegal motor parks in the state to move into approved areas.  

The commissioner specifically warned touts in the state to quit all state and federal roads “unless they choose to relocate to prisons”.

Taking journalists to Aba ’s drainage projects,  the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue  said  the   drainage system has long been a source of concern to the extent that the Ukwu Mango stretch was covered with garbage and stalls and houses built on it. He said  the government is de-flooding and constructing the drainage to connect A line at the Ariaria International Market, and open up Faulks Road. 

 The Commissioner for Information, Dr Eze Chikamnayo said the governor inherited a much polarised and run-down state and promptly went to work. Chikamnayo added that immediately, the security problem was tackled, Governor Orji moved to the next level with the provision of infrastructure. He said Orji is leaving a legacy of over 100 outstanding edifices, structures, covering every arm of government and all sectors.

Orji to distribute tricycles, others.

Orji to distribute tricycles, others

As part of the activities marking the end of the first year in office in his second term, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State will distribute 500 tricycles to youths across the state as part of the poverty alleviation programme. 

The governor, who will be spending the fifth year in office, wants to celebrate with people from different segments of the society in the state and to show them a sense of belonging for their support in the past five years of his administration.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Ugochukwu Emezue issued in Umuahia, he said that it is part of Governor Theodore Orji’s programme aimed at empowering the youths of the state.

Emezue said that youths from the three senatorial zones will benefit from this largesse, stressing that the governor is not known to discriminate when it comes to giving to the people of the state.

The CPS said that his boss is desirous of laying a solid foundation for the future of Abia youths, hence his decision to invest in them, “You know that when a state or nation invests in its youths, it is securing its future”.

Emezue said that the governor has also approved money for the payment of bursary to Abia students who are studying abroad, adding that it is also part of the activities to celebrate the Democracy Day in the state. 

He explained that the education of Abia youths is paramount to the governor as exemplified in the equipping of laboratories and libraries of most secondary schools in the state.

Emezue reiterated the resolve of the governor to hand over schools to the missions in August this year, maintaining that all those missionaries interested in having back their schools should come forward and show genuine interest to have them.

The CPS declared that Governor Orji will continue the free bus transportation scheme for pupils and students in Abia, while the renovation of schools will continue to enhance the learning standard and equipping Abia youths for the future.

He announced that the state governor has directed the school management board should as matter of urgency to deliver seats and forms to all the schools across the state, apart from the renovation of the existing school structures.

Abia: The secret revolution in education sector.

Abia: The secret revolution in education sector

IT was the late John F. Kennedy, the 35th American President who once said: “Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation”.

This notable quote from one of the world’s great leaders was a pointer to the importance of education, especially in a developing country like ours.

This was aptly recognised, digested and adopted by the present administration in Abia under the able leadership of Chief Theodore Orji since he assumed office as governor in 2007. A clear testimony to the effect was his quick and unbridled interventions in the decayed education sector in the state, which his government has sustained till today.

As a product of public schools, Orji in 2008 reactivated the Abia State Scholarship Board that has been comatose for years. The sum of N10, 000 each was given to 1000 students of Abia origin in different schools as bursary grants for the year. Since then, the now well-funded Board has offered scholarship to many indigenes of the state for degree and postgraduate degrees at home and abroad.

For pupils and students in primary and secondary schools in the state, apart from tuition-free education policy in place, fleets of buses have been provided for them in the Free School Bus Scheme of the present administration.

Those of us who are teachers and had our promotions delayed for years by the previous administrations without any explanation or reason had every cause to be happy now as the situation changed immediately Governor Orji won his second term election. It was a promise he made to us before the election and fulfilled it immediately he won the election. Added to the promotions was the increase in minimum wage.

As a mark of success of the present government’s intervention in the education sector, the state in 2008 came second in the South East zone in the attainment of Universal Basic Education, UBE, goals according to the ranking released by the National Universal Basic Education Commission. Since then, the state has emerged second twice, and first once, of which they were given the sum of N70 million as star prize.

Most public schools in the state, which were in dilapidated state and calling for urgent attention as they were no longer conducive for learning and teaching, have been renovated and re-equipped by the government. They included National High School Aba, Girls Secondary School Umuahia, St. Joseph Model Secondary School Aba, Government College Umuahia, School for the Deaf Ntalakwu Oboro and renovation is ongoing in so many others.

Also under the Education Trust Fund Projects, classroom blocks were erected at National High School Aba, Egwuama Girls Secondary Abiriba, Girls Commercial School Aba, Umuokpara Secondary School Umuahia, Community Secondary School Isieke, Amari Senior Science Ikwuano and others. At the last count, not less than 250 public schools have been renovated and equipped by the government since 2008 and presently massive construction and renovation are ongoing in other public schools across the state.

Textbooks, chairs and other materials have been regularly and adequately provided for the teachers, pupils and students in the public schools in the State to make teaching and learning easier and a worthwhile experience. That is why the state has been performing well in national and international academic competitions.

At the two technical schools in the state, namely Boys Technical College Aba and Government Technical College Ohafia, eight buildings each have been refurbished and renovated in each of them.

Also receiving adequate attention from the state government since 2008 till now are the state-owned tertiary institutions, especially Abia State University Uturu where Orji’s predecessor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu attended as a sitting governor of the state to obtain first degree certificate. When Governor Orji assumed office in 2007, monthly subvention to Abia State University was N80 million, but Governor Orji increased it to N120 million immediately.

Apart from the increment in the subvention, government injected huge funds in the institution for the full accreditation of all the courses that had before now suffered accreditation problems due to the inadequacies and lapses in both human and material resources in the school. Today, all the courses in the school had gotten full accreditation and the students are happy for it.

The backlog of students in the Nursing Department of the institution who have been denied graduation due to the non-accreditation of the department heaved a sigh of relief recently with the restoration of accreditation in the department following interventions from the state government that worked so hard for it by construction befitting edifices at Abia State University Teaching Hospital Aba and provided other things needed for the full accreditation.

The same thing happened at Abia State Polytechnic Aba which the government have helped in ensuring that all their courses were given full accreditation by the National Board for Technical Education, NBTE.\

Mr. INNOCENT AMALU, a teacher, wrote from Umuahia, Abia State.

Patience, sincerity will move Abia forward – Orji.

Patience, sincerity will move Abia forward – Orji

.Photo, Speaker, Abia State House of Assembly, Ude Oko-chukwu (left), Deputy Governor of the state, Emeka Ananaba (second left), the State Governor, Theodore Orji (third left), his wife, Mercy Odochi (third right), wife of the Deputy Governor, Nene Ananaba (second right), and wife of the Speaker, Ude Oko- Chukwu, cutting the 2012 Democracy Day cake, to mark the one year anniversary of the second tenure of Governor Orji in Umuahia … on Tuesday.

Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State has identified patience, prudence and sincerity of purpose as all it takes to take the state to the next level.
He, has, therefore, promised to surmount all the obstacles in his quest to reposition the state.
Addressing a crowd of Abians at the Aguiyi Ironsi Cenotaph in Umuahia while marking the 2012 Democracy Day and his first year in office in the second tenure, Orji believes that no obstacle was insurmountable, especially when Abians were involved.
He stressed that having weathered the storm which prevailed in the state before he assumed office and which was responsible for the lack of infrastructural and socio-economic development of the state, his administration was now poised to push ahead with its lofty programmes.
The Governor enumerated his achievements within the first year of his second tenure which cuts across the three senatorial districts.
He said these were was just a tip of the iceberg and that Abia State will yet see monumental dividends of democracy delivered to them.
“As our second tenure draws forth, with all the strength, and with all the experience we have garnered in life and in office, with all the confidence that Abians daily impact on me, with the genuine criticisms we receive from many Abians, I can re-affirm the promise I made to Abians last May 29, 2011.
“That I will do whatever is right, and what is best to serve Abia State and leave a legacy that promotes sustainable growth, peace, democracy and development of Abia State,” the Governor, said, adding, “God helping me, I and my government will not fail Abians.”
Turning to those he called un-repentant critics that see nothing new in the state, Orji said: “I can only assure them that our new magic framework for Abia is that we know what to do, and Abia’s problems will soon yield to the sustained efforts of our sincerity of purpose, to serve no one else, but the general interest of Abians.”
He also singled out political leadership as a challenge confronting the state, but insisted that he has the courage and singleness of purpose to subdue it, so that the second tenure will be one that will be remembered for a long time to come in the state.
“We promise you that everything will turn around in Abia State, and we will transmit this state greater, better and more prosperous than it was transmitted to us.”
He assured that some of the most pressing problems that tended to dismember Abia, including kidnapping, armed robbery and general insecurity has been dealt mortal blows.
Earlier, Chairman of the occasion, Ike Nwachukwu, a Senator, insisted that unlike the era before 2007, Abia has witnessed tremendous transformation in all nooks and crannies and that many more were still being expected.
He enjoined Abians to continue to show support and loyalty to the present administration in its quest to return the state to its former glory, as well as empower the people economically.

Canadian Firm signs MoU with Abia State Government to build Mono-rail system!

Canadian Firm signs MoU with Abia State Government to build Mono-rail system!

The face of transportation in Abia State is set to change as a Canadian firm,Globim Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Abia State Government to build monorail system of transportation to connect Aba and Umuahia.

Chairman of Globim, Dr Jude Igwemezie, who led a delegation to yesterday to seal the MoU, said their firm specializes in the construction and management of monorail.

According to him, the project would cost $1.6 billion and would be entirely funded by the firm as Abia government would only be required to provide the land, security and manpower. He said when it becomes fully operational, the monorail would generate 4,000 jobs in Abia and 20, 000 jobs across the Southeast.

Also,  aside from providing commuters an efficient and alternative means of transport, the monorail, which would be built to run at a height of nine metres, would eliminate road hazards like accidents and robbery.

Igwemezie explained that the company was interested in introducing the monorail transportation system in Abia and other cities in the Southeast zone and eventually the entire Southeast would be connected with monorail integrated mode of transportation.

He said Globim had already secured approval to build monorail in Onitsha, Enugu and Calabar and assured the governor that they will provide the funding and expects the government to provide labour and security to them.

Governor Theodore Orji, who was visibly elated over the prospect of having the monorail running in his state, said after signing the MoU that the novel project was much acceptable to his government.

COMPLETED ROADS IN ABIA STATE.

COMPLETED ROADS IN ABIA STATE

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN ABIA STATE.

DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN ABIA STATE