Governor Okezie Ikpeazu says 31st December 2019 remains sacrosanct for the relocation of the illegal traders at Isi gate Umuahia to the government-approved markets of Ubani Ibeku, Amuzukwu relief market and others.
The State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, stated this while interacting with Abia people and residents on BCA radio live interactive program, The Platform. He also assured civil servants of his commitment to the payment of new minimum wage “We will pay the new minimum wage, there is no way Abia will be left behind” he said and added that he targets State IGR to increase up to 1 billion five hundred thousand Naira monthly to assist in the payment. He assured that his administration will sustain the timeliness in salary payment on or before 28 of every month and would continue and improve on that trajectory.
Governor Ikpeazu disclosed that the first set of shoes from the automated shoe factory in the State would soon be rolled – out. He said the idea of making the Ministry of Industry separate from that of Trade, Science & Technology was to give impetus to the fact that industrialization is the key to economic development. He called for a review of the way businesses operate, saying that trading, which Igbo people are known for, has become an endangered activity that needs to be run alongside focused industrialization agenda.
On the NDDC claim of constructing over 480 roads in the State, the Governor said the Verification Committee he set up would help the government determine the true position of the roads and expressed shock on some of the listed projects which according to him bear nebulous identification such as “Atani-Ukwa road”, among other preliminary observations. Governor Ikpeazu promised to implement recommendation arising from the findings of the committee.
Governor Ikpeazu, who was happy that Golden Guinea Breweries has returned to production, said that the value chain is huge as the company would employ over 2,000 people directly and indirectly. He added that through interventions in power, SME development and SME Bank, his government is trying to create more employment in order to make life better for the people of the State.
Asked about the Osisioma interchange, the Governor stated thus:
“I want to be judged by the quality of work I do not by the speed of work. My speed is calibrated by two factors; one is the availability of resources, the second one is open to times and seasons effect, there is no way we could have done the riser and descent of that flyover during the rains, that’s why we are doing that now.” He assured that the government would make the best use of the current dry season to deliver more road projects.
The Governor revealed that the
Enyimba Economic City is a private sector-driven economic project that would employ more than 700 thousand people within 10 years and called on all to support the project as it is the only opportunity the Igbos have to key into the economic development of the South East. He stated that the project has taken a life of its own that cannot be truncated but will require investment from within and outside the south-east region to flourish quickly.
-Divine Nwankwo reporting
