The 30th of September marked the making of history in the quest to positively alter the economic fortunes of a state and an entire region. On this day the ground breaking occurred for the first of its kind in Abia as a state and indeed the South East region of Nigeria – the foundation stone for the Abia Industrial and Innovation park project at Owaza community in Ukwa west local government area was laid.
As a novelty which many doubted would take off the ground but potentially could unlock vast economic opportunities for the people and Nigeria, the Abia Industrial and Innovation park has become a focal point of the belief that help has finally come to Abia.
For long the state had craved such level of economic investment but almost no effort was made by previous administrations to create an enabling environment that would be attractive enough for global players in heavy industry, manufacturing, energy and the likes. These major players are known to be mass producers and employers therefore societies crave their presence and no effort is spared in attracting them.
Governor Alex Chioma Otti, an erudite economist who is also an astute banker and business man in realising the far reaching effect of enablers has therefore set out on a radical path to drive the establishment of an industrial cum innovation park.
This park will sit as a hub within which critical economic foundation will be provided to attract the big and creative producers to come, invest, reap good profits while opening up opportunities for the people to gain from in job opportunities,trade,small,medium scale service provision and the overall economic emancipation of an area hitherto held back in poverty and deprivation for so long.
The AIIP is a project which will sit on a 1000acre duly acquired piece of real estate and has absolutely no link to other phantom projects of the past which allegedly was solely aimed at taking over ancestral properties of locals without any form of compensation. Little wonder such projects never saw the light of the day after initial flashes in the pan.
No doubt Dr Alex Otti, governor of Abia state has caused light to shine in Owaza, ukwa west local government area with the groundbreaking of the Abia Industrial and Innovation park. It is note worthy to mention that Owaza is an oil producing community with commercial hydrocarbon deposits already being exploited by multinational energy producers.
The siting of the Abia Industrial Innovation park in Owaza aimes to take advantage of the already existing oil and gas exploitation to develop an industrial hub leveraging on already existing energy production, skilled and unskilled youth work force, nearness to the major cities of Aba and Portharcourt amongst many advantages for economic rejuvenation of the state.
With a current GDP of about 25 billion dollars, an unemployment rate of 43 percent, GDP par capita of 2 thousand dollars, a population of 4.1 million, with only 35 percent of road infrastructure classified as motorable among several other negative indicators as revealed by Dr Oby Ezekwesili at her Abia at 32 lecture, it is clear that so much more is expected of Abia based on its potentials.
Therefore it can be deduced that the state in 3 decades has been punching far below its weight level.
The leadership ambition gap in Abia makes it imperative that projects such as the Industrial and Innovation park as conceived by Gov. Otti are established to change the negative tragectory of the state to move in the direction of its very high potentials for development.
The Abia Industrial and Innovation park is projected to provide an enabling environment to attract a suit of industries. The state keenly aware of its responsibilities will provide the land, access roads, legal and regulatory phrame works to attract investments in modular refineries, real estate development, technology Innovation, leisure cum International hotel chains and many more.
The choice of Owaza with huge deposits of hydrocarbons, putting Abia on the map of oil producing states in the country and with a very high gas concentration is strategic because the park will be powered by gas, a cleaner source of energy being more environment friendly.
The concept of a modular refinary at the Abia Industrial park is a long term solution for prevailing problems arising from the total diregulation of the downstream petroleum sector. Premium motor spirit also known as petrol, a refined petroleum product which the Nigerian economy depends on has witnessed a massive jump in pump price in recent months.
Delivering a lecture at the 63rd Founders Day ceremonies of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka with the theme ” Fuel Subsidy Removal: Dealing with the Challenges, Harnessing the Opportunities” Abia state governor Dr Alex Otti bemoaned the adverse impact of subsidy-driven imports on domestic refining investments.
His vision of a modular refinary at Owaza under the AIIP will in the medium and long term expand local refining investment capacities to tackle the challenges in PMS production and distribution in Abia and the region.
The establishment of a modular refinary at the AIIP is a long term solution to the issue of constantly rising pump price of PMS and other refined petroleum products. This indicates a high scale of ambition on the part of the current state government ably led by Governor Alex Otti to move Abia out of the scale of states with the 10 least IGR in the country to an enviable position.
At the AIIP, liquified petroleum gas, compressed natural gas, jet fuel and diesel production tank farms are to be co-located with the aim of producing Nigerias liquid fuel also taking advantage of the huge gas deposits in Owaza.
In maximizing opportunities through partnerships in a secure environment, multinationals such as Shell and Total are already on board this project while an investor has made a commitment to the state government to the tune of 50million dollars on the Abia Industrial and Innovation park.
The government has promised that in the spirit of the new Abia, all will be done to ensure that the AIIP doesn’t end up a white elephant project or a failed promise like others of the past but to become the most integrated and profitable industrial park in West Africa.
Abia has become the new destination for profitable investment as the project is scheduled to be delivered within the shortest possible time to allow for quick return on investment for those who have come on board the AIIP ship and others who will come aboard in the months ahead.
The Abia Industrial and Innovation park promises to be the new dawn of economic reawakening for Owaza, Ukwa, Abia and the South East region.
It will be an economic legacy to impact generations yet in the making for all time.
By Elvis Chukwu, public affairs commentator