The Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, has called on Traditional Rulers, opinion leaders and stakeholders from Abia North Senatorial Zone to make useful inputs and suggestions on the way forward for the zone in the implementation of the Abia Long Term Development Plan.
Sir Oko Chukwu who made the call during the stakeholders consultative Town Hall meeting on Abia Long Term DevelopmentAbia kicks off long term development planning consultation with Abia North Zone
The Deputy Governor, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu, has called on Traditional Rulers, opinion leaders and stakeholders from Abia North Senatorial Zone to make useful inputs and suggestions on the way forward for the zone in the implementation of the Abia Long Term Development Plan.
Sir Oko Chukwu who made the call during the stakeholders consultative Town Hall meeting on Abia Long Term Development Plan for Abia North Senatorial District held at the Ohafia Local Government Area secretariat, said the call has become expedient as government desires that every individual and community get involved in deciding their exact needs by leveraging on areas they have comparative advantage rather than for leaders and development partners embarking on projects that do not have direct or immediate positive impact on people at the grassroots.
The Deputy Governor disclosed that the present administration deemed it fit to partner the Foundation for Partnership in the Niger Delta ( PIND) to seek people’s opinions in drawing a long term plan of 10 years that will be incorporated into the state’s annual budgets for proper planning that will prevent duplication of projects and guarantee continuity in terms of implementation by successive governments thereby ensuring the rapid development of Abia State.
He insisted that the plan should reflect the people’s developmental needs in line with the various agricultural products Abia North is blessed with, which should be enhanced with good storage and processing equipment that will boost the agro-allied industry. He further opined that the issue of erosion menace ravaging the area should be addressed alongside providing good road network which is an enabler for development.
Sir Oko Chukwu enjoined the people of Abia North to take the programme which cuts across all political divides seriously by consulting widely and articulate their views on their expectations for the next 10 years for documentation. He commended the state planning commission and PIND for the initiative and their collaboration.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary/ Executive Secretary, Abia State Planning Commission, Dr Mrs Nnenna Chikezie who said the PIND long term plan was introduced for the purpose of collecting inputs from communities and stakeholders in Abia North as a means of producing a document that will serve as a road map for the development of the State.
Also Speaking, the Coordinator, Partnership Initiative for Niger Delta ( PIND), Mr Chima Asonye, said the exercise is to enable people from Abia North Zone express their views on their expectations concerning the infrastructure, education, health among others for the next 10 Years for a better Abia
The session which featured questions and answers from stakeholders and individuals from the zone on their expectations and way forward attracted the presence of the T.C Chairman Designate of Ohafia Local Government Area, Chief Fred Eke Idika, top government officials, members of Ohafia traditional rulers council and other stakeholders from the zone.
