Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu on Friday pledged his administration’s commitment to building more infrastructure in cities across the state as part of the effort to improve the quality lives of urban dwellers by giving them a sense of belonging before 2023 when it will exit office.
The governor who spoke at a technical and critical stakeholders’ Workshop/Engagement on the Preparation of Structure Plan for Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state, described the creation of a robust urban economy that will help in improving the lives of city dwellers as sine qua non to development.
He was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the Government of State Government (SSG), Barr Chris Ezem who stated that Ikpeazu’s government has worked vigorously to ensure that urban dwellers enjoy basic infrastructure and other amenities since he assumed office in 2015.
Ikpeazu said that the programme which was organised by the United Nations Habitat Unit in collaboration with the Abia State Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Planning was initiated by previous administrations about two decades ago, assured that his government will hand it over to the oncoming administration if not completed in 2023.
The UN team leader, Dr Omoayena Odunbaku who also spoke at the event described the workshop as timely, lauding the resource persons for their diligent in explaining with diligence the vital roles a properly planned urban city plays in the lives of the people.
Odunbaku who is also the Human Settlement Officer with oversight for Anglophone West Africa vowed to co-opt two of the resources which included: some departments in Abia which include: the Survey, Lands, Housing, Information, Open Spaces, CSDA as well as the FRSC to the UN Habitat team.
In his opening address, the Permanent Secretary, Abia State Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Planning, Mr Aaron Bestman disclosed the resolve of the state government to synergise with the UN Habitat team.
He pledged to provide the necessary professional inputs and data that would make the spatial plan of Aba and its environs succeed and make the target of the UN Habitat team achievable.