Residents of Owaza community in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State have appealed to Governor Alex Otti to return their lands acquired for the proposed Abia Industrial and Innovation Park (AIIP), citing the absence of visible construction work and persistent lack of basic amenities.
The residents expressed disappointment that more than three years after the foundation-laying ceremony for the project on September 30, 2023, there was no visible sign of construction on the site.
They claimed that more than 1,000 hectares of land had been acquired for the project, lamenting that the area remained undeveloped while the community continued to grapple with poor roads, lack of electricity and inadequate water supply.
According to the residents, the government should prioritise essential infrastructure that would improve their living conditions rather than keep their lands unused for a project whose commencement they said had yet to materialise.
“We don’t need an industrial park here. We need roads, electricity and a good source of water. We don’t have the basic necessities of life, yet our lands have been taken for a project that has not commenced,” one of the residents lamented.
The residents also raised concerns over the alleged presence of Fulani herders on the acquired land, claiming that the situation had heightened insecurity and disrupted farming and commercial activities.
They alleged that fear had restricted movement, particularly in the evenings, while farmers were increasingly worried about accessing their farmlands.
One of the residents, Chidiebere Nweze, said the visit to the community had provided an opportunity to draw public attention to their plight.
Nweze alleged that no meaningful development had taken place on the land since the state government announced plans to establish the industrial park.
He warned that leaving such a vast expanse of land unused had created security concerns for residents and called on the governor to visit the community to assess the situation.
“Once it is 4 p.m., people become afraid to pass through this area to their homes and farms. The governor should come and see what is happening here. Nothing is going on, and we don’t need an industrial park here. Let us have electricity and good roads first,” he said.
Nweze further lamented that the situation had isolated the community from neighbouring areas, alleging that commercial activities had declined as people and businesses moved to more accessible locations.
“We don’t even know if we are still part of Abia State. This situation has cut us off from other communities,” he added.
Another resident, David Godwin, said the community initially welcomed the industrial park project because of the development, employment and economic opportunities it was expected to bring.
He explained that some landowners voluntarily released their lands, while others sold theirs in anticipation of improved infrastructure, increased commercial activities and better living conditions.
Godwin, however, expressed disappointment that the community had yet to witness significant development associated with the project.
“When the announcement was made that an industrial park would be constructed here, we were all happy. We believed it would bring development and opportunities to our people. Some people gave their lands freely, while others sold theirs because they believed better things were coming,” he said.
“But today, the reverse is the case. How can the government take such a massive land and up till now, nothing has been done? They should give us back our land. We don’t need an industrial park; we need roads and electricity,” he added.
He also alleged that the presence of herders on the land had disrupted farming activities, leaving residents concerned about their safety and economic future.
The residents urged the state government to address their grievances, insisting that the expectations raised by the project had yet to translate into tangible benefits for the community.
They called on Governor Otti to either commence construction of the industrial park and provide the necessary infrastructure or return the land to its original owners to enable them to resume farming and other economic activities.
The Abia Industrial and Innovation Park is an initiative of the Otti administration located in Owaza, Ukwa West Local Government Area. The project is designed to attract investors and accommodate industries, including modular refineries, petrochemical plants, fertiliser factories and steel production facilities.
The state government has projected that the industrial hub would create employment opportunities, stimulate economic growth and transform the area into a major industrial centre.
The government had also announced a compensation process for landowners affected by the acquisition, although the residents’ latest concerns centre on the perceived delay in the commencement of construction and the lack of visible benefits to the host community.
