Sam Hart
29 October 2008
opinion
Umuahia — When Chief T.A. Orji assumed office as the 3rd executive Governor of Abia State on May 29, 2007, he was faced with a situation where most of the industries that hitherto provided employment for the citizens of Abia State were either moribund or were on the verge of being shut down for diverse reasons.
The situation was such that all the action in Abia State revolved around the Government and the effect on the economy of the state was rather negative.
This was as a result of the fact that most of these companies that had gone under had laid off their staff and those that were still operating at minimal capacity owed staff salaries for several months in arrears.
Governor T.A. Orji then went about working on the best possible action to be taken as regards these companies, which would be beneficial to all concerned.
Abia State ranks rather low on the table of states with financial muscle and the state does not exactly have the funds to pump into these industries to guarantee their revitalisation.
This is coupled with the fact that the Governor is a firm believer in the dictum that Government has no business running a business. The sole role of government in business is to provide an enabling environment for the businesses to thrive.
It was a combination of these factors that led the Governor to throw the doors of Abia State wide open for investors to come and take over all the industries that were rotting away some for as much as ten years.
Several companies both local and foreign, have heeded the call of the Governor and in Abia state today, like the Bible would say, dry bones are rising again.
Today, the Golden Guinea Breweries for which the people of Umuahia nay Abia State have a rather sentimental attachment is on the verge of resuming full production after about seven years of inactivity.
The company at the height of its operations had in its direct employ, over five thousand employees on full time emolument. This is different from the about ten thousand people in the employ of suppliers, contractors, distributors and other related businesses dependent on the brewery for their daily sustenance.
The Governor was able to dexterously resolve the myriad of contentious issues that had held the company down and was able to negotiate the hand over of the company to its new majority shareholders.
Part of the concessions that were obtained from the new shareholders of the brewery was that the bulk of the previous staff of the brewery will be retained while indigenes of Abia State will be given first priority in any employment exercise to be embarked upon by the brewery.
At the moment, the new management team of the brewery are in Germany inspecting the modern brewery equipment being fabricated specifically for the Golden Guinea Brewery to confirm that they conform with required specifications.
The equipments will be fully installed by December, 2008 and full production is expected to resume by the first quarter of 2009.
The Modern Ceramics Industries, which was handed over to UCL Consortium, promoted by the Catholic Diocese of Umuahia during the administration of Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu has been given the required fillip to revitalise the industry, which had remained moribund for about a decade.
On assumption of office, Governor T.A. Orji met with the consortium and was able to resolve some pending issues requiring waivers and incentives which were delaying the commencement of production at the factory.
Today, modern equipment imported from Italy for use at the factory have been installed. Test production of minor products are currently on-going at the factory site awaiting commissioning before full production can commence.
The Modern Ceramics Industries at full capacity, employs two thousand direct staff while about five thousand individuals benefit from supplies, distributions and contracts.
The Abia Hotels Limited hitherto occupied a large expanse of land in a prime location in the city centre with little or no revenue accruing to government from the enterprise. In continuation of his Public Private Partnership policy, Governor T.A. Orji called for bids from reputable organisations to take over the large expanse of land occupied by the non-functional hotel and erect a modern structure.
Today, the Abia State Government has signed a contract with Nech and World International Group, owners of the Protea Hotel at Obigbo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State to build a world-class four-star hotel on that same location.
The existing structures will be demolished to pave way for the new hotel complete with an International Conference Centre, a Mall and a recreational park.
The certificate of occupancy for the property has been handed over to the company, the model of the new structure to be erected has been approved and the company is set to move into site to commence construction.
Still in Umuahia, the old clerks quarters, which was a derelict collection of abandoned or underutilised buildings occupying a prime location in the city centre was handed over to Moneyline Investments Limited and they are currently erecting about 50 modern duplexes specifically targeted at Abians in the Diaspora desirous of returning home and other people.
In Aba, the International Glass Industry, which was part-leased to Churchgate Group recently commissioned a new production line, the first major activity in the industry for the past ten years.
With the commissioning of the new production line, the company is currently the largest manufacturer of pharmaceutical bottles in Nigeria. With the new life breathed into it by the T.A. Orji administration, it is set to expand its operational base and diversify into general glass productions.
A forthnight ago, the Abia Palm Estate in Ohambele, Ukwa-East Local Government Area, which has been comatose for twelve years was handed over to Frie-El Consortium of Italy for revitalisation.
The company, which has already revitalised the Mbawsi Oil Mill as a show of its capabilities is set to immediately transplant twenty thousand palm seedlings from its nursery at Ekiti State to the Abia Palm Estate, Ohambele for immediate take-off of the estate.
Suffice it to state that the people of the area will form the bulk of the rather considerable manual labour that will be required to work at the five-hectre estate.
In Ukwa-West Local Government Area, the Azumini Blue River is an International Tourist Centre recognised by the United Nations. The resort has however been allowed to run to seed due to years of mismanagement and neglect.
Today, a contract has been signed with CEM 2000 Consortium to take over the resort and build a world-class tourist centre there. Preliminary paperworks are being tidied up pursuant to the commencement of work on the site. The revenue that will accrue to the state from tourism activities at the centre along with its attendant ripple effect can only be imagined.
Perhaps, the most significant of the investments attracted into Abia State is the Geometric Power Project currently being set up at Osisioma, Aba. The project, which is a 188Mw Thermal Independent Power Project with a 110Km radius range will guarantee uninterrupted power supply to Abia State and by extension all these industries that are springing up. The project, which has attained 70% completion, is set to come on stream by April 2009.
Indeed, for a Governor to within 16 months of assumption of office, embark on this massive revitalisation of moribund industries reveals a strategic drive to empower his people.
The slogan of the Progressive Peoples Alliance, the platform on which Governor T.A. Orji rose to power is 'Prosperity to the People'. Since it would not be possible to physically distribute wealth to every Abian, the Governor has chosen to empower the people by providing them with avenues for self sustenance and empowerment.
As far as the Governor is concerned, it is yet morning on creation day. He has resolved that at the conclusion of his tour of duty as Governor of Abia State, the fortunes of his people would have considerably improved.
How the Governor has achieved all these milestones in the face of malicious opposition is a study in the audacity of determination.
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