Nice one op

Nigeria: Chime Promises Improved Environment for Investors

Gov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu State on Thursday said that ongoing infrastructural development of the state had boosted its economic profile.

Chime made the statement in Enugu at the inauguration of Tetra Log Limited's Mercedes Benz Sales and Services Center.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Rev. Raphael Nwoye, said that his administration was committed to removing all barriers hindering the growth of commerce in the state.

He announced that the state government had set up a steering committee to work out modalities to deal with issues of multiple taxation and related matters.

He also said that the state had benefitted from the upgrade of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, adding that the state had been adjudged as one of the fastest growing economies in the country.

Chime assured that his administration would sustain ongoing investment opportunities in the state.

He commended the management of Tetra Log Ltd. for citing the service centre in the state.

Earlier, the Managing Director of the company, Mr Onuorah Nnabugwu, said that the choice of Enugu for the investment was based on merit. Nnabugwu said that the investment would bring a turn-around in the fortunes of the state. He said that the company was given the right by the Federal Government to produce Mercedes Benz parts and assured that the company, in doing so, would comply with government's new automotive policy. He said that the measure would give the company the leverage to engage in the production of some equipment, including water/fuel tankers and troop carriers.

A representative of Daimler AG of Germany, a partner to Tetra Log, Dr Kloja Rebstock, expressed happiness that Mercedes Benz had sustained its growth in Nigeria. He said that the company would support Tetra to provide quality services to its customers, noting that "even after over 100 years of, Mercedes Benz has continued to maintain quality services to the people."

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=newssearch&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCUQ-AsoATAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fallafrica.com%2Fstories%2F201409190476.html&ei=JtUcVPXPKcS0PPDHgbgB&usg=AFQjCNEEH9LSu-NFHCSTpfgORzLklh8Ujw

Total Builds $900m Pipeline to Supply Gas to Alaoji Power Station in Abia State

Posted by: The Citizen in Business, Other News August 26, 2014

Mrs. Elisabeth Proust, MD, Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria
Hope for improvement in power supply in Nigeria has been rekindled as French oil giant, Total has stated that it has built a $900 million worth of pipeline infrastructure to supply gas from the company’s Oil Mining Lease (OML) 58 to the 964 megawatt-capacity Alaoji Power Station in Abia State.
The new Managing Director of Total Upstream Companies in Nigeria, Mrs. Elisabeth Proust, who confirmed this investment to THISDAY at the weekend, however, stated that for the investment of such magnitude to be economic in Nigeria, the price of domestic gas should be increased from its current level of $2.5 to $7 per million British Thermal Unit (BTU).
“We have invested in very huge pipeline onshore – 50 kilometres of 24-inch pipeline, starting from OML 58 to go to Imo River and to Alaoji. Here, we are already in contract with the power plant at Alaoji. This is our first customer. We will be ready to deliver the gas by 2015. So, we are now in negotiation with other industries, not power plants, to provide them with gas. My plan is that in 2017, we should produce and supply the gas through the pipeline,” she said.
Proust said it was a huge pipeline that transverse several communities, adding that the company has spent $900 million on the project.
She however, said to ensure that such project was economic, domestic gas price should be increased to between $5 and $7 per million British Thermal Unit.
According to her, the recent improvement in domestic gas price cannot make such project economic.
“To get the economy of such project, we need to have a good price. The improvement in gas price is good. But we can say that it cannot provide the economy of such pipeline project. I hope that we will achieve a better price so that we can have the economy of such investment,” she added.
The Total boss further disclosed that her company will supply gas to Alaoji at a price of $2.5, adding however, that this price is not adequate to guarantee adequate returns on the investment.
“So, we have made calculations on that and we can say that for the fiscal terms in the joint venture and production sharing contracts, we need between $5 and $7 per million BTU for the development of such facilities. If the fiscal terms change, may be, we will need more. It depends on how they change,” she explained.

http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/total-builds-900m-pipeline-to-supply-gas-to-alaoji-power-station/187355/

Waltersmith Raises $50Million For Topping Plant in Ibigwe Imo State, Awaits Approval

Section: In the news · April 24, 2014 · No comments | Tags: featured
ftimg-waltersmith

Nigerian independent Waltersmith Petroman has raised $50Million, the entire funds required for the building of a 5,000BOPD refinery at its Ibigwe field in Imo State, eastern Niger Delta. It is awaiting the approval of the Nigerian minister of Petroleum Resources to start construction.

“It has become imperative for us to do it”, says Abdurazaq Isa, the company’s executive chairman. “If you aggregate the losses we have suffered from vandalism of the Trans Niger Pipeline (the crude export line) since we started production in June 2008, it comes to over one year of production”, Isa explains. “Last year alone, we lost 120 days of production”.

Waltersmith produces 4,300BOPD at full throttle, but average monthly production in January, February and March 2014 have been between 3,500-3,800BOPD, largely because of deferments. Waltersmith has a Flowstation capacity of 15,000BOPD on the Ibigwe field. It hopes to source crude from nearby fields to feed the topping plant.

“We may not make as much money from the plant as we do in exporting the crude, but we won’t run at a loss”, Isa, a former banker, insists. “Imagine producing diesel and kerosene from our plant and distributing them around (eastern Nigerian cities of) Port Harcourt, Aba and Owerri?”, Isa asks. “We’d run better figures than anyone importing and landing and paying charges and coming from Lagos”. Isa restates the fact that the proposed 400,000BOPD refinery by the Dangote group “cannot meet the country’s domestic demand of petroleum products”.

Isa also sees the project in terms of social investment. Beneficiation of natural resources is a “legacy that we indigenous companies should leave”, he says. “In Britain, refineries contribute $3.87Billion to the local economy. It’s our duty to make that sort of contribution to our own economy. We will not lose money”

http://africaoilgasreport.com/2014/04/in-the-news/waltersmith-raises-50million-for-topping-plant-awaits-approval/

Pictures of Umuahia, Abia State. Ala Igbo Amaka !!!

MORE PICTURES OF UMUAHIA, ABIA STATE. GOD BLESS IGBOLAND

Pictures of Imo State. ALA IGBO WU OKE MBA MARA MMA

why are these places empty? Where are the people? Are they all hiding away in Yoruba land? or in the remote villages away from the towns?

Cha cha cha! Igbo Kwenu. Anioma Kwenu! Abia Kwenu! Anambra Kwenu! Imo Kwenu! Enugu Kwenu! Ebonyi Kwenu! Rivers Kwenu! Umu Ubani Kwenu! Alaigbo Kwezuonu oh! Iseeeeeeeeee! Chukwu goziri Umuigbo.

I wil be back with comments

Made-in-aba Shoe Daily Export Hits 1m Pairs

BY CHARLES NWAOGUJI ON SEPTEMBER 22, 2014 · BUSINESS


The Aba shoe industry project in South-East Nigeria is heading for global market with daily export fig­ures of one million pairs to other African countries, the President of the Abia Think Tank Association, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa has said.

Ohuabunwa , who stated this during a press conference ahead of a two-day economic sum­mit in Aba, said that the shoemakers produce quality that compares with the Italian brands, adding that despite leading the Africa market, they are yet to have presence outside the con­tinent.

“We have started forming the shoemakers into cooperative societies so that they can have access to funding from development finance institutions like the Bank of Industry as well as capacity building and linkage to international market, “ he said.

He explained that when he was in Aba where they make shoes billed for Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Gabon even to Zaira over one million pairs of shoes are exported daily out of Aba.

“I found out that they were doing the work without mini­mum support from anybody. But when I calculated their returns on those investments, I found it was peanuts. They work like elephant but eat like ant. They sweat to bring in their ingenuity but because they are not properly har­nessed, the return on invest­ments is meager,” he said.

The former Chairman of Economic Summit Group la­mented that one of the great­est problems facing made-in-Nigeria products is the lack of policy backing by the govern­ment.

“When products made- in- Nigeria are patronized by government and ordinary people then more goods will be produced, wealth created and prosperity will be spread among Nigerians,” he said.

He stated that once the made-in-Nigeria policy is sustained in the medium and long term percentage of Ni­geria’s manufacturer products in composite of export will in­crease and percentage of total imported goods will decrease.

If the policy is properly im­plemented, he said there will be wealth creation and more employment in Nigeria.

He urged Nigerians to de­velop confidence in Made-in-Nigeria products and trade on the products in order to facili­tate more productivity in the country.

Ohuabunwa pointed out that Aba remains the econom­ic and industrial hub of Eastern states and Nigeria with great potentialities yawning for ex­ploitation.

He explained that the forthcoming summit with the theme, “Aba as the Cen­terpiece of Abia Economic Renaissance” will consolidate and deepen the gains of the previous edition and maintain the momentum in focusing at­tention of private and public sectors in Aba to resolve a ver­itable and strategic roadmap for the state’s development.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=82882

This is the news I was talked about in the previous page. Igboland is an Emerging Paradise

Obiano’s Economic Programmes Attract $382m Investments To Anambra State

Governor Willie Obiano’s pursuit of excellence in Anambra State has continued to resound across the world as the investment community recently responded to his economic programmes by investing a whopping $382.3m (N62bn) into various strategic economic segments in the state.

[b]Out of this sum, a total of $220m was signed in at the weekend when two major investors decided to swoop on the agricultural and tourism sectors of the state. The companies are Joseph Agro Ltd which pumped in the sum of $150m into the Omor Rice Mill project in Ayamelum Local Government Area of the state and Cardinal Developers Trust Ltd which is investing the sum of $70m in a five-star hotel project in Onitsha respectively.

Joseph Agro Limited, a subsidiary of Bravura, one of Nigeria’s major energy firms and its technical partner, REI Agro Commodities, the world’s leading rice producer has by this agreement taken over the Omor Rice Mill with its 10,000 hectares of virgin land and the 3,850 hectare Lower Anambra Irrigation Project.

Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony in Awka at the weekend, the governor of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano explained that Joseph Agro Ltd would produce 120,000 metric tonnes of rice paddies per year in its first phase, pointing out that in addition to the output of Coched Farms, the project would completely eliminate the state’s rice supply deficit by 99%.

Said he; “Joseph Agro Ltd will help expand our scope in the agricultural sector. When fully operational, it will put 10,000 people in direct employment and about 25,000 in indirect employment. At the same time it will lead to the development of human and technical capacity to enhance local rice production as well as boost the growth in our internally generated revenue,”

Like Joseph Agro Ltd, Cardinal Developers & Trust Limited is also taking over the completion of Anambra’s 5-Star luxury hotel in Onitsha, which will be managed by Radisson Blu on completion. Cardinal Developers & Trust Ltd is expected to build a 2,000 capacity conference center in Onitsha and construct 161 units of luxury apartments, flats and terrace houses in Onitsha.

Offering insight into the nature and benefits of the agreement with Cardinal Developers & Trust Ltd, Governor Obiano explained that “the project is expected to form a part of the Onitsha Entertainment Hub which has a world class shopping mall currently under construction and is financed by Africa Capital Alliance. This project will generate 400 direct jobs and 2000 indirect jobs.”

According to him, on completion, the hotel is expected to attract discerning clientele and stimulate a new culture and lifestyle in Onitsha that has not been in existence all these years in addition to catalyzing the interest of investors in Onitsha which is in line with the state government’s on-going urban renewal efforts in the major cities.[/b]

Also speaking at the MOU signing, the Managing Director, Mr. Joe Billy Ekwunife explained that the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) through which the investments found their way into the state had received 112 presentations and proposals from prospective investors and service providers in the last four months.

Said he; “These investors and proposals are put through a generic assessment and viability exercise which evaluates the investor’s credibility and competence, financial capacity and timeframe of investment, among other criteria. At this moment seven (7) proposed investments have been identified as suitable, credible and value-creating for the indigenes of Anambra State. It is worthy of note that the generic assessment and risk analysis exercise has been carried out.”

ANSIPPA estimates that by the end of December this year, Anambra would be $1.5bn richer in investments arising from another five MoUs that are in line to be signed.

Anambra State is fast becoming an investors’ haven of sorts since the Obiano administration tightened the noose on crime and insecurity in the state

Already, one of the investors, Coched Farms Project, a subsidiary of the Coscharis Group has set up an office along the Onitsha-Enugu Expressway, hired some workers and mobilized to its farm settlement in Anaku.

On its own part, the state government has moved in to build the capacity that would support the impending agricultural revolution, successfully midwifing the formation of 1,874 cooperative societies that will catalyze the revolution. The members of these cooperatives will be trained and prepared in modern technics of mechanized farming.

Owerri Chamber of Commerce Signs MoU With Chinese Businessmen

Posted by admin on Apr 14th, 2014 and filed under Business. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

The Owerri Chamber of
Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (OCCIMA), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the establishment of industries in Imo State with a team of Chinese businessmen.
The President of the chamber, Mr Kevin Mbawuike, made this known in an interview with newsmen in Owerri last Thursday.
Under the agreement, investors from China and their local partners would establish industries in the areas of agriculture, energy, food processing, manufacturing, transport and housing.
Mbawuike said the initiative facilitated by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Mrs Viola Onwuliri, was to create employment opportunities for Nigerian youths.
“Owerri is a thriving academic and food sector environment and remains a golden mine for genuine investors who intends to have return of his investment because of the population.
“Unfortunately the private sector in the area is not recording enough government support in term of payment of counterpart funding and this is adversely affecting business,’’ he said.
Mbawuike noted that lack of government support had been a reoccurring problem in Imo, noting that the problem did not start with the present administration.
He blamed the low industrial presence in the state on the difficulty faced by businessmen in assessing funds either from the Bank of Industries, SEMDAN or the CBN.
He added that the chamber was making effort to improve the situation.
“This week, we are paying a contest visit to the Commissioner for Commerce and Non-Formal Sector, and we are hoping that government will start listening to the business community in Imo,’’ he said.
Mbawuike also stressed the need for Imo people to invest in small and medium industries, noting that it would help to engage a lot of young men and women who graduate from schools.
“We encourage our people to put in their resources in industrial activities no matter how little rather than expand monies on luxury life styles,’’ he said.
He said the chamber and the South-East Business Platform (local investors), corporative groups and communities were discussing on areas of advantage for businesses investment.
He further said that officials of the chamber and the Ministry of Economic Planning would soon visit Turkey on trade mission, adding that the efforts were aimed at tackling high youth unemployment.

http://www.thetidenewsonline.com/2014/04/14/owerri-chamber-signs-mou-with-chinese-businessmen/

OrlandoOwoh: The Igbo retail traders in Ghana, among others,
being asked to leave will have a place to do their business in the
gully-ravaged land.

okola sanyeri,se ko si? oti re ju

Willie Obiano’s Six Months of Magic in Anambra State as Internal Generated Revenue Hits One Billion
0
By JAMES EZE on September 22, 2014 · COVER

Six months ago when Chief Willie Obiano mounted the saddle of leadership in Anambra State, there was understandable anxiety among Ndi Anambra. The immediate past governor, Peter Obi’s humble disposition and outstanding performance had left people, wondering if anyone else could sustain the tradition of excellence he had established in the state, let alone improve upon it. This is in spite of the former governor’s assurances during the campaign days that he was confident that whatever he had achieved in government would be surpassed by the man he had anointed to succeed him.

Now, six months into Obiano’s administration, former governor Obi must be nodding his head in contentment, a wry smile clinging to the edges of his mouth. It has become clear to even his most rabid political enemies that his choice of Willie Obiano as his successor was right. In a country where succession has posed the greatest challenge to leadership, Obiano’s widely acclaimed great performance in the last six months has firmly validated former governor Peter Obi as a great leader who is not only concerned about the present but keeps an eagle eye on the future.

Six months down the road, the facts of Obiano’s stewardship are there for all to see. The ex-banker had signaled his intention to turn things around in Anambra in his prophetically titled inaugural address – Expanding the Frontiers of Excellence. In that document, he had sought to not only expand the frontiers of excellence but to enlarge the realms of possibility. And the facts are here with us in just six months. The most glaring of these facts is that for the first time in living memory, Anambra State has almost attained a crime-free status. For more than four decades, Onitsha, the economic engine-room of Nigeria’s South East was a metaphor for crime and unnamable absurdities. People who are familiar with Onitsha can easily recall the era of the first and second Boys Oh Yeahs down to the Bakassi Boys days, the Derico days and a host of other regimes of the underworld in Onitsha. These periods in history made Onitsha synonymous with violent crime, stripping it of the promise it once held as the literary publishing capital of West Africa which it firmly established with the era of the once famous Onitsha Market Literature. For close to four decades; Onitsha was an anathema of sorts; a taboo to decent folks. But Obiano’s Operation Kpochapu has changed that narrative in just six months.

In a recent encounter with Engr Emeka Okwuosa, an oil magnate and a prominent indigene of the state, he calmly observed that “what Ndi Anambra need is security. Give us security and leave the challenge of developing Anambra State to us.” It would seem that Governor Obiano had this in mind before he assumed the leadership of the state. He figured out that if he could fix Anambra’s security worries, then everything else would follow. He also knew that without a secured Anambra, his Four Pillars of Development (namely, Agriculture, Industrialization, Trade & Commerce and Oil & Gas) for Anambra State would amount to nothing. And now that he has found the formula for cleansing Anambra of crime and criminals, the outcome has been quiet impressive.

It is indeed remarkable how, Obiano’s vision has started to show so early in the life of the administration. One of the earliest signs of what could happen in the New Anambra State under Obiano is the massive investment inflow that the state has witnessed in the last few months. On April 14 this year, the Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency (ANSIPPA) came into being when the bill proposing it was signed into law by the Anambra State House of Assembly. In a very short time, the agency has justified Obiano’s background as an investment banker with statistics his fellow governors would envy. On September 8 this year, ANSIPPA received its first approval from the Anambra State Executive Council to sign seven MoUs with prospective investors that will change the investment landscape of the state. Over the next couple of weeks, ANSIPPA will sign MoUs across key sectors like Agriculture, Tourism and Transportation that will attract a total of $382m (N62.3bn) in investments to Anambra State. On Friday last week, the agency signed two MoUs with Joseph Agro Industries Ltd and Cardinal Developers Trust Ltd valued at $220m. ANSIPPA estimates that by the end of December this year, Anambra would be $1.5bn richer in investments arising from another five MoUs that are in line to be signed. In all, the body has received over 120 proposals from investors who have shown serious interest in doing business in Anambra State. Obiano has done all these in just six months. What will be the investment outlook of Anambra state in four years?

Already, one of the investors, Coched Farms Project, a subsidiary of the Coscharis Group has moved into the state. It has rented an office along the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, hired some workers and mobilized to its farm settlement in Anaku. At the moment, Coched is bringing in improved varieties of seeds from different parts of the world and testing them to establish which variety is most suitable for the soil of Anambra State. On its part, the state government has moved in to build the capacity that would support the impending agricultural revolution. Accordingly, the state has successfully midwifed the formation of 1,874 cooperative societies that will catalyze the revolution. The members of these cooperatives will be trained and prepared in modern technics of mechanized farming. The Ministry of Agriculture has acquired 100 tractors for the same purpose while arrangements are on to acquire more land for large scale farming.

Obiano’s giant strides in agriculture are understandable. Agriculture is one of the pillars of his administration. But the governor has shown as much hunger for success in other areas as well. [b]Another remarkable feat is in the area of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) which has increased from an average of N700m that the administration inherited to an impressive N1bn at the moment. Knowing how averse the people are to the payment of taxes and levies, the marginal increase in IGR in the period under review is quite significant and commendable.

The governor has also shown a lot of foresight in the way he has handled Trade and Commerce, another pillar in his economic blueprint for the state. The overall vision for the sector is that Anambra should be among Nigeria’s top-3 in trade and commerce and among the top-5 industrialized states in the country. To achieve this, the administration is at the verge of setting up three ultra-modern markets in Ogbunike, Umunze and Awka respectively. At the same time the partnership with the Organized private Sector (OPS) has resulted in the formulation of a 10-year Industrial Revolution Plan for Anambra State. On completion, these markets will shoot up the revenue base of the state and create more headroom for the growth of the local economy.
[/b]
As is the case with security, the governor is also fully aware that without tackling the challenge of power supply head-on, his industrial vision for Anambra State would remain a pipe dream. As a result, he set up a Special Committee on Power Supply headed by Mr. Chike Okonkwo who came highly recommended as the leader of the Distributing Power Business of General Electric Company in sub-Saharan Africa. He charged the Committee to “Provide an accurate estimate of current power supply, consumption and projected demand in the state across various consumer groups and recommend suitable power generation and supply solutions, taking into consideration, Anambra State’s climate, environment, landscape and scale of development.” The Committee has nine months to prove its relevance. The governor also set up special committees on other key areas including Oil & Gas, Education, Agriculture and Vigilante groups among others.

Obiano has made tremendous progress in the area of building consensus among the citizenry. His recent tour of the 21 local governments attracted huge crowds at every stop to underscore his soaring popularity. His consultation with the various stakeholders has been extensive and thorough as he reaches out to traditional rulers, corporate moguls and kingmakers across the state to deepen democracy and encourage participatory governance.

He has also kept an eye on the software of governance. At the event marking his first 100-days in office, the governor launched a new cultural identity for Ndi Anambra which came complete with an anthem, an emblem, a flag and a set of moral values that will keep Ndi Anambra on their toes. He is obviously aware that just about any governor can build roads and bridges but it takes a focused and pragmatic leader to attempt to rebuild the moral and socio-cultural fabric of any society.

Now, people have always cautioned that it is too early to sing Governor Willie Obiano’s praises. While that may be so, one wonders how else to react to anyone who puts up his kind of performance in just six months.

http://sunnewsonline.com/new/?p=82808

Nice thread bro, please try and post development news and pics from Anioma area too, for example, pics from Asaba would be highly welcomed , i want to see how well that great town is turning into a beautiful city. Thumbs up.

Nothing on Ebonyi; pics or economic developments? It's the least known state in the entire South East!

pazienza: Nice thread bro, please try and post development news and pics from Anioma area too, for example, pics from Asaba would be highly welcomed , i want to see how well that great town is turning into a beautiful city. Thumbs up.

I will try and look that up

IGBOSON1: Nothing on Ebonyi; pics or economic developments? It's the least known state in the entire South East!

Some things are going on there but are not always in the news. I will also look more into this

Our igbo leaders need to more.. its like they've been in deep slumber since.

shaboti: Our igbo leaders need to more.. its like they've been in deep slumber since.

Some lack high zeal to develop their states while others have their attention on 2015. But they are all making progress although the level of progress differs from state to state.

It appears most capital cities in south east are expanding to new frontiers and areas. Imo state have New Owerri which is developed, Enugu have Independence Layout which is developed, Abia State have Ogurube Layout which is developing same with Anambra Greenwood City and Ebonyi Ochudo City. Some states like Imo and Enugu states have even gone further by moving to what i call the "second phase" of expanding their capital cities by commencing the building of 10,000 hectares Imo Chelsea Industrial / Free-trade zone layout in Ngor Okpala which is a new city to be built from the thick hinterland of Ngor Okpala close to the Sam Mbakwe International Airport starting with a 1st phase of 2000 hectares and 1100 hectares Enugu Golf Centenary City. Ala Igbo is expanding at a fast rate and the rate would increase after 2015 elections. Aba and Onitsha are also expanding fast in all directions.

Imo Chelsea Industrial Park

About Us

The Imo Chelsea Industrial Park is the vision of the ever erudite Chairman of the Chelsea Group. It is born out of the necessity to have a self-sufficient Nigeria dependent on locally made produce as well as products thus reducing the need for unnecessary imports. It is also necessary in helping to develop the Igbo states in Nigeria and bring prestige towards the Imo state and Nigeria in general.

The Imo Chelsea Industrial Park Ltd was registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (C.A.C.) on the 12th of February 2014 with RC No: 1170664.

Area:

10,000Hectares

Place:

IMO State

Resources near by:

Sam Mbakwe Cargo airport
Port Harcourt

It is a partnership between Chelsea Group and the Imo State Government.

The Industrial park will be situated in Imo state and is planned to span a total area of 10,000 hectares with the total area of 2,000 hectares of land having already been acquired and paid for. The Chelsea Group has embarked on a large amount of projects for the benefit of Nigerians in Lagos and Abuja and as this has reserved this mammoth project for the eastern part of the country so as to give back a lasting legacy.

We will promote local industries as well as helping diversify economy away from the over reliance on Oil production and Oil sales.
Infrastructure

POWER STATION

ACCESSIBLE ROAD

DRY PORT

SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS

RAIL LINK

WASTE MANAGEMENT

STAFF QUARTERS / OFFICES

To build a world class industrial area with a first class residential area that anyone from any part of the world would be happy to live in and work in. Therefore, we will make sure that we apply best practice and quality in building and administrating the Park.


Structure Plan

The park is to be sited in Ngo-Okpala local government where commercial and subsistence agriculture are already rife. The location is also very strategic as it is close to the Sam Mbakwe Cargo airport and also a link between Port Harcourt and Abia State (both key commercial hubs in Nigeria). It will span 5 communities in this Local Government Area.

http://www.imochelseaindustrialpark.com/about-us.html

Developer Opens Enugu Centenary City to the Public

September 8, 2014 by Maureen Ihua-Maduenyi

As part of efforts to provide residential, commercial and industrial properties, Private Estate International West Africa, the developer of Enugu Lifestyle and Golf City, also known as the Centenary City, has said it is opening the estate to the public through the sale of plots of land.

The Managing Director, Private Estates International West Africa, Mr. Kingsley Eze, said the city was designed to offer a lifestyle of luxury, adding that the development of infrastructure and other related costs would gulp $300m and that the project was being executed through a public-private partnership between the Enugu State Government and his organisation.

“Significant progress has been made in infrastructure, while several off takers have commenced construction of their building units,” he added.

Eze said upon completion, the city would have modern infrastructure, including electronic security system, water treatment plants, telecommunication facilities, wireless network, recreational park, hospital and schools.

He said, “Enugu Lifestyle and Golf City is the premiere lifestyle city in sub Saharan-Africa. Covering about 1,097 hectares, the city is characterised by breath-taking vintage layout and a rare fine blend of functionality that impeccably connects living with sustainable grandeur. The residential development caters for a wide range of housing needs, including entry-level, middle-income, executive, and super exclusive homes.

“The community is located around an 18-hole golf course that winds itself around the entire stretch of the development. An additional exclusive nine-hole golf course is located within the Presidential Park Estate and opens to only residents of this super exclusive, ultra-secure community within a very secure Enugu Lifestyle and Golf City. A five-star clubhouse and hotel is planned to be the central meeting point for residents in the community and will be managed by the Marriot brand.”

http://www.punchng.com/business/homes-property/developer-opens-enugu-centenary-city-to-the-public/

Enugu Lifestyle & Golf City is arguably one of the most beautifully planned cities in Nigeria. It is set on 1,097 hectares of lush green savannah with the Udi Hills as a picturesque backdrop. Designed around the style and comforts offered by the most advanced cities whilst retaining broad African influences, Enugu Lifestyle and Golf City will be the best place in Nigeria to live, work, learn, play and shop. The residential plots present breathtaking views of the golf course, lakes and reserved green areas. Irrespective of the plot size (ranging from 300m2 – 3,000m2), the city delivers a lifestyle of luxury, serenity and security.

Techno Oil Plans Energy City In Abia State

Written by Cynthia Nwankwo Tuesday, 28 January 2014 23:47
A Lagos-based oil outfit, Techno Oil Limited, on Tuesday said it would establish a multi-million dollar oil company in Abia in collaboration with the state government.

The Managing Director of the company, Mr Tony Onyeama, made this known when the company executive, visited Gov. Theodore Orji, at the Government House, Umuahia.

Onyeama said the energy city would be sited at Obuaku, Ukwa West Local Government Area, and would be a conglomeration of the company’s three other operations in the oil and gas sector.

He noted that the company had commenced discussions with the state government through the Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Chief Don Ubani.

He said that the hope of completing government proposed seaport at Obuaku would facilitate greater growth in commerce in the oil and gas sector of the state.

“It would also position Abia as the nerve centre of industrial activities in the eastern states since ship would berth at the port.

“The future, indeed, looks bright for Abia,’’ Onyeama said.

Onyeama said that Techno Oil would partner with the government to achieve the fit, adding that the construction would begin as soon as the memorandum of understanding was signed.

The managing director, who said the project would take about three years to realise, commended the state government’s initiatives in the health sector.

He cited the establishment of a Diagnostic/Specialist Centres in Umuahia and Aba as instances of the robust health programmes.

Earlier, the Vice Chairman of the company, Mrs Nkechi Obi, noted that the construction of a seaport would attract indigenous and foreign investors to the state.

Obi further observed that the initiative would help to grow the economy of the state and create job opportunities for the people.

She commended government policies, which she said, had helped to transform the state, including the relocation of the Old Umuahia main market out of the city centre to Ubani Ibeku.

Responding, Orji assured the company of the state government’s readiness to collaborate with it to realise the energy city.

He expressed delight that his clarion call to indigenes of the state to join hands with his administration to transform the state had started yielding dividends.

“Abia has no oil company, but we have oil so we will give your company government backing to actualise its dream,’’ he said.

He noted that Abia had become a safe haven for investors because of the successes recorded by the government in the security of lives and property.

According to him, Abia indigenes at home and abroad no longer have reasons not to return home to invest because of adequate security.

“Insecurity should no longer be an excuse,’’ the governor said, adding that his administration was determined to open up the state for investors.

Pictures of Umuahia ALA IGBO AMAKA !!!

Why are the streets of these paradise empty?

IGBO people should be forced back home.

ibedun: Why are the streets of these paradise empty?

IGBO people should be forced back home.

So what are you doing in Essex Abayomi?
I can get you deported you know.

Why are the streets empty and where are the EBOs?

Ebonyi at the Dawn of Infrastructural Transformation
Posted on Monday, 16 June 2014, 12:05 am by The City Reporters in COLUMN with 0 Comments
By Jeff Amechi Agbodo

Ebonyi is one of the new generations of states which came into existence in October1, 1996. The State is generally well known for its agricultural and solid mineral endowments. Over the years, the famous Abakaliki rice has become an emblem of identity of the area following the commercial cultivation of local rice there which is in great demand all over the country. Ebonyi State took its name from the Ebonyi River which traverses the entire state like a troubadour.

Although Ebonyi State prides itself as “the salt of the nation”, time was, when many visitors to the state chose to call it “the dust of the nation” owing to the copious haze of dust which trails any movement through the bad roads across the state. Incidentally, bad roads were only a small part of the development challenges which confronted Ebonyi state at its creation. Like many other states in the country, Ebonyi state continues to grapple with the challenges of education, healthcare and water delivery and rural electrification among others.

Remarkably, 17 years after its creation, the State has greatly changed for the better. In particular, the last 7 years has witnessed a new burst of energy and activity especially in the area of infrastructural transformation of the agrarian state. The subsisting infrastructural rebirth of the state is the product of Governor Martin Elechi’s effort to match his words with action. It would be recalled that in his inaugural address to Ebonyi people in May 29, 2007 following his swearing-in, Governor Elechi had outlined a pragmatic development blueprint for the State anchored on infrastructural development and attitudinal change. After 7 years in the saddle, the verdict of the people is that the state government has kept faith with its promises with the following sectors in view.

ROADS AND BRIDGES:

If there is one sector where the government has made the greatest impact in the last 7 years, it is probably in the area of construction of roads and bridges. Following a comprehensive and ambitious programme of action, the Ebonyi landscape was virtually turned into a theater of construction with the construction of an initial 19 bridges and 164km access roads. The scope of the project, codenamed Ebonyi Unity bridges and access was later expanded to 36 bridges, and about 200 kilometer-access roads connecting all the 13 Local Government Areas of the state. The challenge of constructing roads and bridges in Ebonyi State is heightened by the topography of the state interspersed with undulating hills and valleys, crisscrossed by the Ebonyi River which traverses all parts of the state.

A remarkable feature of the infrastructural development drive of the state is that in many places, the construction efforts actually represent the very first time in history in which the people of those areas witnessed alphalted roads and concrete bridges since the world began.

Another significant feature of the infrastructural drive is that the state government is not limiting itself to the usual demarcation of duties in terms of state and federal roads. It is for this reason that the state government took the responsibility of constructing the 42 kilometer Abakaliki-Oferekpe road with 6 bridges. The state had undertaken the dualization of part of Abakaliki-Afikpo road and Abakaliki-Enugu expressway which recently extended to the gate of the state university which are federal roads.

Today, to the joy of the project communities and other road users, such roads as the Okposi-Uburu-Nkerefi road, the Onicha Igboeze internal roads, the Amagu-Nwezenyi road, the Abakaliki Urban roads and many others have been completed and in use. The bridges at Ezzama, Idembia, Noyo, Onuebonyi Echara, Agba, Akaeze, Unwana and Ukaba along with their access roads have been completed to mention only a few.

According to Governor Martin Elechi, “the emphasis on roads and bridges is borne out of the recognition that it is the primary condition upon which the development of other sectors depends”. There is no doubt that with the on-going infrastructural transformation of the state, Ebonyi is on the threshold of a new socio-economic era.

INSTITUTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE:

One of the most outstanding feats of Ebonyi State Government in the last 7 years is the recovery of 948.7 hectares of former army land in Abakaliki capital city. Through a land exchange deal with the Nigerian Army, the state government acquired a new geographical space for the development of a modern satellite town known as the Ocho Udo city. The development of this new city is already in progress with the construction of an ultra- modern secretariat complex of 11 blocks of 4 storeys each. This gigantic project was awarded to a foreign construction firm Marlum Nigeria Ltd which has been completed awaiting furnishing. Also in progress at the Ocho Udo city, is an international market covering a land space of 54 hectares with 5,600 lock up stores. It is expected that when the project is completed which is currently at 90 percent completion, the old Abakpa main market will be relocated to this new facility to decongest the Abakaliki city centre.

Another vital institutional infrastructure undertaken by the Elechi’s administration is the construction of an ultra-modern Staff Development Centre in Abakaliki. The project is designed to take care of the training needs of all categories of the state workforce to enhance their capacity for optimum productivity; the centre had trained at least 4,000 workers so far while the training is ongoing in batches. The project which has been completed at the cost of N255 million and equipped with furniture, gadgets and multi-media appliances worth N200 million.

Furthermore, the state government also constructed a new Deputy-Governor’s lodge and new Chief Judge’s quarters in Abakaliki.

EDUCATION:

Upon its creation in October 1996, Ebonyi state was acknowledged as the only educationally disadvantaged state in the South-East geopolitical zone. Aware of the importance of education as a driver of development, successive administrations in the state have placed education at the commanding height of their priorities. The state government’s education drive received a major boost under the civilian administration of the former Governor Dr. Sam Egwu following the introduction of the free and compulsory primary and secondary education initiative.

Under the incumbent administration of Chief Martin Elechi, the free education scheme has been sustained in addition to the introduction of the return to boarding school programme. Under this initiative, 27 secondary schools were selected for the pilot scheme and were provided with academic infrastructure and requisite boarding facilities at the cost of over N800 million. These 27 pilot schools, spread in the 13 local Government Areas of the state, are further complemented with 3 technical schools including building of the Girls Technical School, Agba and vocational colleges located at the 3 senatorial zones of the State.

In addition to the extension of bursary awards to disabled students from the state, the government is also shouldering the sponsorship of undergraduate and postgraduate students in various foreign universities. Apart from the primary and secondary levels of education, tertiary education has also received serious attention from the state government. In this regard, the government has sustained the funding of Ebonyi State University and the state college of Education Ikwo. This has accounted for the smooth running and infrastructural development of these institutions. The state government provided 6 luxury buses to the state university to ease the student’s transportation problem. Also there is ongoing construction of pilot model hostels for both male and female students as well as the provision of faculty buildings and the security fencing and transmission of water into the campus at Ezzangbo in readiness of single campus system.

WATER AND HEALTHCARE DELIVERY:

In times past, Ebonyi State used to be associated with guinea worm and other water borne diseases. Such state of affairs has changed with improvements in hygienic water supply to the people through the provision of hand pumps and boreholes in the rural areas. However, upon his assumption of office, Governor Elechi adopted a holistic approach to evolve a long term solution to the problem of water supply. In this regard, the administration embarked on the rehabilitation of the existing Ezilo water scheme at a contract sum of N788.4 million.

The administration also initiated the establishment of additional 2 gigantic water schemes. These are the Ukawu water scheme awarded to an Israeli water Engineering firm and the Oferekpe water scheme awarded to another Isreali water Engineering firm. Each of these water schemes is designed to produce 100 million cubic litres of water per day and will be reticulated to all parts of the state to put a permanent stop to the problem of pipe borne water supply. The governor had said that the Oferekpe water reticulations to various local government areas and communities would be completed by his administration but will ensure that the water will be used in Abakaliki before his exit. While these new water schemes are on course, the state government is also maintaining existing water installations such as the old Abakaliki water-works and the Ogberehi and Unwana water schemes.

In the health sector, the Elechi administration has, in the last 7 years, demonstrated a keen understanding of the linkage between health and development. In pursuit of its policy of public-private partnership, the government initiated the programme of extending financial grants to selected non-governmental mission hospitals in the state. So far, the sum of N1.92billion has been disbursed to 6 of such mission hospitals viz: Mater Mesericordiae Hospital Afikpo, the Presbyterian Joint Hospital Uburu, Mile 4 Hospital Abakaliki, Sudan United Mission Hospital Izzi, St. Vincent Hospital Ndubia and Rural Improvement Hospital, Ikwo. Interestingly, the State Government’s stimulus package to these hospitals has breathed a new lease of life into the institutions whose operations were previously constrained by a combination of obsolete equipment and the dearth of skilled manpower.

These programmes are complemented by the efforts of the wife of the Governor of Ebonyi State Mrs. Josephine Elechi whose war against Vesico Virginal Festula (VVF) has been acclaimed nationally and internationally. Under the scheme, Mrs. Elechi constructed a VVF repair centre in Abakaliki, in which over 300 patients from across the federation have been repaired, free of charge. Other health intervention programmes of the Governor’s wife include the safe motherhood project, Orphans and Vulnerable Children programme, relief for people living with HIV/AIDS and the Breast and Cervical Cancer project. Indeed, the health sector has faired admirably in 3 years of Elechi’s administration.

While it is difficult to comprehensively itemize the achievements of Ebonyi State government in the last 7 years, its strides in the agricultural sector deserves special mention. Apart from floating a tractor Hire service with the procurement of 200 brand new tractors, the government has also maintained a regime of incentives for Ebonyi farmers by way of soft loans, subsidization of fertilizer and distribution of improved agricultural inputs. To boost youth participation in agriculture, the state government undertook the sponsorship of 73 Ebonyi farmers to a training programme in Songhai Benin Republic. The trained youths have been given financial assistance of N 266 million to set up their agricultural outfit of their choice.

In order to decongest the Abakaliki rice mill, the state government has established 3 modern rice mill cluster one in senatorial zone which has started milling rice in Ikwo, Izzi and Osso Edda respectively. The modern rice milling machines worth N1.4 billion were supplied from Satake Corporation of Japan.

With the numerous achievements of the present administration in Ebonyi State in all sectors of the economy including the establishment of a new stone crushing estate at Ezza Umuoghara at the cost of N650 million, the construction of new digital radio and television stations at the cost of N2.4 billion among others, it is safe to say that Governor Elechi has kept faith with his promises.

The former Senator representing Ebonyi Central District, Senator Emmanuel Onwe, said that this year’s democracy day was the penultimate in the tenure of Governor Martin Elechi and was a fitting occasion for him to essay out for the people of the State the status of his stewardship in the course of the 7 years that he has been at the helm, saying that Elechi is always a confident performer.

His words: “Unlike the past when lack of exposure and inexperience hampered governance, Chief Elechi brought experience, knowledge, seriousness and disciplined mind to his administration’.

“He avoided the cosmetic efforts of the past and focused on substance infrastructure, structural and systemic reforms and genuine education policy that will long endure and deliver statewide benefits. I doubt that he will abandon any elephant projects. He unlocked the door of genuine development with the key of imagination”.

The senator said of course there is room for improvement because resources are scarce and human needs are unlimited, adding that it’s only a fool that will come to the conclusion that everything that can be achieved has been achieved.

According to Onwe, “but in summation, he can handover next year and retire or embark on another endeavour in his life confident in the knowledge that he has truly done his best for his people. We the writers of history will take it on from there. This is just an interim assessment. We will do the full report card in one year to come”.

If the governor should be given another opportunity to serve the state in any other capacity after his second term in office in 2015 if he wishes, it is left for the people of the state to decide but despite all odds, the governor has delivered the dividends of democracy to Ebonyians.

http://thecityreporters.com/ebonyi-at-the-dawn-of-infrastructural-transformation/