Abia State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, OFR has signed into law the Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA) bill recently passed by the State House of Assembly.
Speaking shortly after assenting to the bill , Governor Otti said the establishment of the Greater Aba Development Authority is to give Aba a special focus as a commercial hub. According to the Governor,
“Everyone who had followed the process of the campaigns and elections would have remembered that we have said that we needed a special focus on Aba which is a commercial nerve centre of the State”
The Governor said that Aba combines what many cities have individually, adding that, Aba is not just a commercial zone but an industrial hub where
“we have all sorts of light manufacturing, heavy manufacturing, micro small and medium scale businesses, trading. Virtually every street in Aba is a market , eventhough we are working and organizing them, but it is a strength that we recognize.”
The Governor emphasised that , “when we invest heavily in infrastructural renewal in Aba, it is because we recognize the potentials that Aba has and we believe that if we improve on ease of doing business, we attract a lot of businesses.
The State chief executive congratulated the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, his colleagues in the House of Assembly, Members of the State Executive Council on the passage of the executive bill and stated that with the law, Aba rejuvenation has gotten a legal backing to bring about the needed development in Aba.
Presenting the bill earlier for the Governor’s assent, the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Ikechukwu Uwanna noted that the executive bill was passed into law by the State House of Assembly on 8th December, 2023. He said that Greater Development Aba Authority is now the first bill Governor Alex Otti is signing into law and congratulated the Governor on achieving that feat.
Shedding light on the newly signed law, the Director General of the Greater Development Aba Authority, Mr. Uche Ukeje described the law as a special vehicle that would drive the development of Aba and realize the the Governor’s vision about the Enyimba city,. He said the law would create an integrator authority that integrates all the efforts of the Ministries in a bid to bring the needed development in Aba.
The Secretary to the State Government, Professor Kenneth Kalu, Special Adviser on Legislative Matters, Hon. Luke Onyeani, Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma among other top government officials were present at the event.
