MAXIMISING OPPORTUNITIES THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS
Being A Speech Delivered by the Governor Of Abia State, Dr. Alex C. Otti, OFR on the Occasion of the Ground Breaking Of the Abia State Innovation and Industrial Park, Owaza, Ukwa West LGA On September 30, 2023.
Protocols,
1. I want to specially welcome everyone to this event which promises to be a watershed moment in the economic history of our land. What we have come here to do is significant in many respects and I want to appreciate the many individuals and groups whose hard work and commitment contributed in making today possible.

2. The Abia Industrial and Innovation Park (AIIP) is conceived to serve as a launch pad for our economic rejuvenation, leveraging the many advantages of this location, including but not limited to the oil and gas deposits, nearness to Aba and Port Harcourt cities, abundance of skilled labour and a secure environment for smooth and uninterrupted production and other industrial activities.
3. Let me specially appreciate the communities and villages who see great value in this proposition and graciously offered their land to give this vision a foothold. I thank the traditional and community leaders, the youth leaders and all who were involved in various stages of the negotiations for their peaceful disposition and sincerity.

4. My honest assurance to everyone is that the Abia State government shall keep to its part of the bargain and you shall get what you truly deserve. We shall also work with experts and industry regulators to set up clear guidelines that will drastically minimise the damages to your natural environment. Above all, we will see to it that every corporate entity that shall have a presence here takes its corporate social responsibility very seriously.

5. I want to also appreciate the various businesses and government agencies that have indicated serious interest to be involved in the Abia Industrial and Innovation Park. I am excited to see the heads and representatives of several multinational corporations and government agencies here today. I thank you for demonstrating serious commitment to this project and for your support so far.

6. What we have done in the last few months is to build trust amongst stakeholders; we shall henceforth proceed with speed, ensuring that the massive goodwill this project has garnered is sustained and within a very reasonable length of time, even those who doubt us would come to see that this is not just another white elephant project or a political gambit.

7. Our vision is clear and our goal direct: we want to responsibly harness the abundant oil and gas reserves within Ukwa for the economic development of the communities within, the state and the regions connected to this project location.
8. At every stage of this project, even before this ground breaking ceremony, jobs will be created, local businesses would be empowered and multiple channels of economic expansion established for entrepreneurs within and outside this immediate community.

9. The AIIP promises to be a win-win for every stakeholder, especially the host communities that have graciously welcomed us, the investors who can be certain of a conducive business environment, steady power supply, nearness to raw materials, a large population of skilled and unskilled labour, the government through improved revenue and even the research and academic community who can use this project to drive their search for knowledge on relevant thematic areas.

10. The agenda is to build a connected system that offers the advantage of economies of scale to businesses that would be sited here, taking advantage of a systematic network that offers endless enterprise opportunities, residential comfort, robust infrastructure, outlets for leisure and recreation and chains of other benefits that cannot be obtained in any other location in all of West Africa.

11. How is this project different from similar ideas in the past that ultimately did not see the light of the day? This question is very germane because I am sure you are aware that over the years, starting from the early 1990s, several proposals, similar to this had been conceived and in the end, none of the promises were delivered; the people still wallow in poverty as job opportunities remain very limited and social infrastructure in poor conditions, to say the least.

12. Today we come with a new assurance: in the spirit of the New Abia, things would be different this time, all that is promised would be delivered and no party shall be short-changed. As a government, we shall create the appropriate regulatory frameworks that will protect the interest of every stakeholder, especially the communities, seeing that they are not exploited by any of the industrial concerns that would be doing business in this Park. We shall also protect the businesses from criminality and any form of aggression by any individual or group. Our promise is very unambiguous: all efforts would be put in place to ensure minimal disruptions in economic activities once things kick off.

13. At the end of this ground breaking ceremony, the bulldozers, payloaders and other earth moving equipment would go to work; you shall start seeing evidence of serious commitment on the part of the government and the concerned stakeholders. This project is purely an economic endeavour and I shall do everything within my power to insulate it from the distractions of politics. AIIP is designed to be largely autonomous, with government only acting to provide regulations and see that the terms of engagements as agreed by all partners are respected.

14. It is a new dawn in Ukwa land in particular and Abia State in general. What you are witnessing today and what you shall see in the days to come offers a glimpse into our programme for industrial revolution in the state. We are committed to harnessing the abundant human and material resources in the land to create extensive opportunities for the people in ways that poverty and destitution are dealt very strong blow in all parts of the state.

15. The Abia Industrial and Innovation Park shall exploit the oil and gas wealth in Owaza to drive the socio-economic development of all of Ukwa, a land that has suffered untold neglect in the past two decades and more. In other parts of the state, we shall set up structures that tap into the major raw materials and human resources within the communities to jumpstart the local economies.
16. We are working on several proposals to set up agro-processing hubs in all LGAs in the state focusing extensively on what is produced most within the communities. In places where cassava is the most dominant agro-produce, our plan is to start up multiple plants that process and preserve all the derivatives of cassava, ensuring that the farmers get the most for every gramme of cassava harvested and processed.

17. Our target is the international market. What we produce in our farmlands in Obingwa, Isiala Ngwa, Isuikwuato and Umunneochi, Bende, Ikwuano, Arochukwu and Ohafia will be sold in markets and malls in Europe, America, China, South Africa and across every part of the world. The era of being restricted to the local ogwumabiri market is over.
18. Recall that we had mentioned during the campaigns that we shall create the right environment that supports strong economic systems within our communities, guaranteeing that jobs and opportunities are created for our youth population. All that we have done in the last four months is in pursuance of that commitment.

19. Our decision to pay salaries as at when due and give pensioners what is due them is to make sure that individuals and families can at least have some disposable income that would enable them plan and patronise local businesses within their domains, generally increasing the volume of money in circulation and economic activities within communities.
20. Our road rehabilitation projects, the modest progress made in the health sector and general improvement in security, especially in the axis where criminals have claimed territories to themselves in the past, improved urban sanitation and all the other gains we have recorded in the last 4 months are geared towards empowering our people to believe and dream again.

21. Here in Owaza today, we shall go one step further to set the ball rolling for the establishment of what promises to be the largest and most integrated industrial park in all of West Africa. As you can see from the impressive list of guests here, this is a project many local and international players would be actively involved in and a lot more would be watching closely to see what happens in the months and years ahead.

22. The location of AIIP is attractive because it has access to the Atlantic Ocean. At about 30 nautical miles from the Ocean, we shall set up a sea port here giving impetus to trading of goods from here. All necessary approvals will also be sought for the designation of the Park as an export processing and free trade zone.

23. AIIP is poised to make history as the first cluster in Nigeria, where LPG, CNG, Jet fuel, PMS and Diesel production tank farms will be co-located with other supporting infrastructure for more efficient and commercial production of our own made-in Nigeria liquid fuel. This will help eliminate the liquid fuel scarcity problems in the country and in line with President Tinubu’s policy trust on domestic utilization of the country’s abundant natural gas resources, we have advanced discussions with major players in the gas value chain for the establishment of CNG production facilities here in AIIP.

24. If there is one thing we have managed to do since taking office in May this year, it is to return Abia to major economic conversations in Nigeria and beyond. Aba is getting the attention it deserves and investors are seeing new possibilities. Umuahia is looking better as we continue with our road rehabilitation projects, clearance of refuse and lighting up the town.

25. The AIIP is conceived to offer great support to the Aba economic ecosystem and in time merge with it. It is an ambitious project but we are determined to go all the way for the state and the people who have put so much faith in us deserve no less.

26. It is important to state as I conclude that everything would not be done in one day but I can assure you that every day when you come here, you shall see new signs that we mean business. A number of big players are already involved but I am certain that the number would grow exponentially in the weeks and months ahead. May I also announce that the state will accommodate as many businesses as are willing to locate in this park and elsewhere in Abia. The land is massive and if we need more, we shall make it available.

27. Go home with this message: Abia is the new destination for rewarding investments. If you have anything to produce, Abia should be number one in your consideration because the opportunities here are boundless, the people are hardworking, innovative and self-driven. Another advantage, which would come on stream at the completion of this park, is drastically reduced cost of production through reliable and affordable power supply. So where else would you rather be?

28. I thank you for listening and may God bless and lead you safely back home.
Dr Alex C. Otti, OFR.