Abia Among Top Six States That Don’t Owe Salaries
Aba is the heartbeat of Abia State; so that what affects impacts on all parts of the state. From infrastructure deficit to decline in production capacity. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has had a lot to do restoring the lost glory of God’s own state. Chronicling
Why did Abia State Government send 30 shoemakers to China?
It’s all part of the government’s social investment initiative. It is also connected to our promotion of Made-in-Aba which, as you know, is one of the flagship programmes of this government. The idea behind it was to look inward, see how we could support smallscale enterprises in Aba. It’s a way of spreading prosperity, a way of curtailing joblessness and associated insecurity. Most importantly, it was designed to contribute to the industrialisation agenda of the Ikpeazu administration. The Governor anchored his development paradigm on five pillars: education, agriculture, industrialisation, commerce, oil, and gas.
Aba people, historically, are makers. What happened in the past was that they made and credited others. That’s why you see products from Aba being credited to China, Italy, and Sweden. So what the government has done is to identify with them, their craftsmanship, give them the courage to own up to their production, support them to improve what they are producing and also help them to have access to markets locally and globally.
Those 30 are the first set to go to China; we expect about 100 of them to go. They will learn about automated shoemaking. Nobody has any doubt that our people are the best in shoemaking in Nigeria, but we need to move it from the craft level to the industrial production level. To do that, because there is an existing gap in the demand and supply of shoes, we need to automate their processes. So we thought that the best way to do it was to send out young people among the shoemakers and let them learn from the Chinese, who already have global shoe brands. So the trip will enable them to be able to operate equipment that allows for the mass production of shoes. They will then serve as trainers for others when they come back and, ultimately, we will support them to acquire the necessary machines and equipment.
Previously, we’ve done something similar with tailors in Aba. We took them to Turkey to spend some time to learn new techniques for cutting, sewing and a lot of them have acquired machines and are doing well. We also have a big fabrication hub in Aba, along Port Harcourt Road. What we will also do to support them is to modernise their processes and systems and make sure that they stand strong as Nigeria’s number one fabrication hub. And part of that support is the reconstruction of Port Harcourt Road, which was abandoned by the federal government for more than 20 years. Before now, people knew that if you wanted to fabricate any machine, build a fuel tank or a trailer carrying a tank, you would go to Port Harcourt Road and get it done. But because there is no road, how do you get it from there? So, today, the government of Dr. Ikpeazu is constructing a six-lane road, complete with BRT lanes on both sides, so that those fabricators can work and be evacuated easily.
The thinking of the government is very simple. If you are going to construct a road, make sure it is an economic one; not a road that leads to the house of your political friends. An economic road is one that leads to markets, places of business and farms. This is all part of our integrated economic plan for Abia and we are unfolding them at a fast pace.
Can you put a figure on the demand for shoes across the world?
The demand is about two billion pairs a day. The Chinese themselves know that they have not been able to satisfy 20 per cent of the market requirement.
What sort of infrastructure are you putting in place in Aba?
The government of Ikpeazu partnered Rural Electrification Agency of the federal government and today we are providing uninterrupted power to 10,000 shops at Ariaria International Market, including the area where you have the shoemaking cluster. Beyond that, we have done a lot to support Geometric Power System to come on stream so that they can supply power to the manufacturing hub in Aba. Because of what we are doing, other power providers, including those involved in bio-power generation are coming to Aba now to try to support what is anticipated as the biggest industrial explosion in Africa being pioneered by this government.
Secondly, before now, Faulks Road that leads to Ariaria is unpassable. You might have heard about Ukwu Mango area too; not many realise that since 1982, we have had a challenge around that Ukwu Mango that defied all attempts to reconstruct Faulks Road in a sustainable manner. At a certain stage, our people started talking about Mammy Water living around there. All previous governments tried to construct the road, but within six months it would collapse because they did not solve the problem from the roots.
Governor Ikpeazu had to hire consultants from Netherlands – they are the best when it comes to water management – to look at that area. Beyond just constructing Faulks