Unlocking The Potentials Of Aba - Ukaegbu

Recent events in Abia demonstrate high capabilities of unlocking
the potentialities that abound in the cultural,tourism,hospitality
sub-sectors of the state economy, especially Aba, the state's
economic heartbeat.

As 2015 was winding up, Aba Sports Club commissioned its
green golf course. The 18-hole course was constructed at
N1.5million each and the estimated maintenance fee per hole
each month is N250,000.

The economic implication of this venture on Aba in particular,and
Abia in general cannot be over-emphasised. Golf is tagged an
elitist sports and is played by high-profile industrialists and the
well-to-do in the society. With a functional green golf course in
Aba, big time investors will be trooping into the city for
tournaments and this will rake in huge earnings for the state
through tourism and hospitality.

The expected impact of the green golf course on the economy of
the state was aptly captured by the President of the club, Dr.
Uwa Onwucheka when he commended Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu for
embarking on urban renewal, stressing that when completed, Aba
would fully bounce back to its former glory.

"I commend what the governor is doing on urban renewal; fixing
the roads and other infrastructure. I appeal to him to help
maintain the golf course. People may not realize what we have
done for Abia state. Any man who is an entrepreneur who wants
a place to recreate, this is what Aba Sports Club represents.

From now, most big time investors would look at the calendar
and see when the Aba Amateur Open will take place. They can
plan to have their holidays in Aba and hotels in the city would be
fully booked. Investors would come in. All the factories that had
left Aba would come back. We need world class international
hotel. People who lodge there will come here and recreate. With
this, Aba will bounce back. By extension, Abia state will also
bounce back".

But now that Aba Golf Course has gone green alot is expected
from the government to achieve its full economic potentials. One
vital area is the maintenance of the course. The financial burden
will be huge on Aba Sports Club if they are left to bear the
N250,000 maintenance cost per hole every month.

According to Onwucheka, "In other places like Enugu, Uyo, Owerri,
government contribute heavily to the maintenance of the golf
course, knowing fully well the tourism potentials of the golf
course. We plead that the government of Abia state sees the
need to invest in golf. This has been done by private capital and
individuals. Government must work in conjunction with the people
by investing more and helping in the maintenance of the golf
course. This would be to the betterment of the state".

Besides regular maintenance of the course, efforts should be
geared towards upgrading hotel facilities in the city. This issue
brings to fore the comatose state of the popular Enyimba Hotels.
Like Onwucheka appealed to Gov. Ikpeazu to upgrade the facility,
Enyimba Hotels require urgent attention.

The facility located at the bank of Aba River(Waterside) was a
dream project of the Ukpabi Asika administration of the defunct
East Central State and was initiated after the civil war, was
supposed a standard swimming pool, garden and other
recreational facilities.

The foundation of the seven- storey edifice was laid by the
administration of late Chief Sam Onunaka Mbakwe of the old Imo
State. The project,which was to cost N56million, had reached an
advance stage- with contracts awarded for procurement of
furniture and fittings, utensils, among others when military
intervention in politics of December 31, 1983 truncated it.

Regime after regime abandoned Enyimba Hotels until 1991 after
the creation of Abia State when it was rumoured that the Aba
Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA)
purchased the facility.

One of the remarkable efforts by Ikpeazu's administration to give
the facility a facelift was the ejection of miscreants from it.
Before now, the facility was converted to the abode of all manner
of miscreants who constituted nuisance to both the security of
the city and the beauty of the neighbourhood. Though
overwhelming applause trailed the action , there are strong calls
to the government by individuals to revoke the purchase by
ACCIMA if the chamber fails to expedite actions on revitalizing
the hotel.

In mid December 2015, residents of the state were treated to
another event that would in the near future shape the cultural and
commercial potentials of the state. The Enyimba Cultural Carnival
was test run. The event, though was test run, was a huge
success .It featured road show, beauty parade,award night,
fashion show,amongst others.

The carnival with the theme"Reigniting our cultural and
commercial values" was dedicated to the celebrations of the
Christmas and Enyimba International Football Club victory in the
national Premier League last season. It is an annual event that
would attract visitors to Enyimba city every year.

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu has emphasised on several occasions that
Aba is key and and pivot to his administration's policy. Efforts to
achieve this came to a climax few days back when the 1st Aba
Urban Development Summit was held .The aim of the summit
was as a result of the determination of Ikpeazu's administration
to ensure that Aba attains its full potentials. It was also aimed at
providing government the opportunity to seek partnerships from
development partners, interested individuals and organisations to
help government extract solutions towards the holistic
development of Aba.

It is not only that Aba in a foreseeable future would become a
tourist-haven but a motion has been set in place to ensure
this.The ugly narrative of Aba as a city lying in ruins has changed
instantly- courtesy of Gov. Ikpeazu's Aba Urban Renwal Drive.The
drive has ensured the provision of world-class infrastructure,
especially roads in the city. Some of these roads are fitted with
street lightings and solid drainage.

Also, to ensure that these roads constructed outlast Ikpeazu's
administration, the state has adopted the cement technology.
And the perennial flooding that rendered the streets of Aba
impassable and contribute to the collapse of these roads has
been taken care of through the dredging of the Aba River. This
exercise ensures the expansion of the river banks to accomodate
more flood water from the channels. Besides existng drainage in
the city are desilted to ensure free flow of flood water.

A paper entitled “From This to That: Restoring Spatial Sanity to
Aba Urban” delivered at the just concluded summit captured the
essence of Ikpeazu's renewal drive thus:"Urban renewal entails
redevelopment, revitalization and remodeling of older structures.
Urban renewal projects are crucial to the success of city because
they stimulate the economy, enhance property values, in-stall a
sense of civil pride, reduce crimes, help existing businesses and
attract new ones. Renewal efforts generally focus on areas that
have fallen below current public standard. Aba urban is an
example of a city that has fallen below the acceptable standard
of development".

Indeed, the stage is set for the potentials that abound in Abia to
be unlocked.



Keshi Ukegbu is SSA to Gov. Ikpeazu on media.