₦airaland Forum

greatnaija01:
why bother? if you cant pay fees at the beginning, what guarantees you that you will pay till the end.

how did you apply without knowing if you would be able to afford it or not? then you come ONLINE to beg strangers... see this does not work anymore o

Sir the admission came unexpected, but my problem now is to secure the Admission

Bluehill1051:
Scam. A word is enough

how is it a scam ? When you saw my screenshot Admission letter.. i swear have never tried this in my life begging online it my first time. Cos of the situation I found myself now. Ask from me anything to prove to you I'm not a scam I will do that

Please help me out if you can no matter how little it's is it will go a long way

Sir the admission came unexpected, but my problem now is to secure the Admission

In my life time I have never experienced this kind trying(hard)time before.
I have been admitted to study Law in Absu Meanwhile,I am yet to pay acceptance fee,of which the deadline is Friday 29th November 2019 By what I had gathered,there is no extension.
I had rally around begging for help from friends and relatives all to no avail.
Please how can anyone help me?
I had been hoping and believing in GOD,still hoping,I don't know where to run to again.
It has been frustrating since,if only anyone could know how much I felt and look like presently,how much more frustrating is it to wait for a year's time again if this admission is terminated.
I don't seem to understand myself anymore!
I am highly down and frustrated!
Only if they could extend the date(deadline)!
If only I could see an helper!
Please do not let me forfeit this admission.Anyone?
Please!

Acct name: NDUKWE EMMANUEL CHUKWUEMEKA
acct no:3547519027 (FCMB)
Thanks people

My Good People of Abia State.
To the glory of God, I address you today on the occasion of the 2nd anniversary of our assumption of office to pilot the affairs of our beloved Abia State. Last year, on this same day, during our first anniversary, I came to you with updates on what we had done and promises of what we will yet do. I am proud to report to you that most of those promises have become tangible realities that we can all see and be proud of.
As you are aware, upon assumption of office, we identified 5 Pillars of Development upon which we purposed to anchor our developmental vision. These pillars are Education, Commerce, Trade, Oil and Gas and Agriculture. The Pillars also had enablers which when taken together, we had no doubt that they had the potentials to accelerate our growth and development as a state and place us on an enviable pedestal.
We have taken considerable steps to deliver on those pillars and enablers and the results are there for all to see. I am grateful to the distinguished Abia leaders who took time yesterday to make inputs into our plans during our interactive session at the International Conference Centre and I assure them that we will take those inputs into cognizance as we move to the next phase of our developmental objectives.
Permit me therefore at this juncture to bring to you, highlights of what we have been able to do within the period under review.

ROADS AND BRIDGES
One of the very first actions I took on the first working day after my swearing-in as Governor was to flag off construction work on roads in Aba and Umuahia. We are mindful of the importance of good roads to the stimulation of economic and social activities and we have not relented since day 1. To date, we have succeeded in completing about 40 roads across the state out of the about 80 roads we embarked upon from inception. Mention must be made of the fact that most of these roads, especially in Aba, are being constructed with rigid pavement technology which guarantees their longevity.
While I will not go into the list of all the roads we have constructed and are constructing as they are contained in the detailed report we have released, permit me to elaborate on some of the roads and their significance.
As you all know, we awarded the contract for the reconstruction of Faulks road late last year to SetracoConstruction Company. A component of the contract was also the solving of the perennial problem of the IfeobaraBasin and Ukwu Mango which hitherto always caused the area to be flooded. Today, to the glory of God, the company has achieved significant milestone in fixing Faulks Road and creatively solving the problem of the Ifeobara Basin.
Equally significant and complementary to the FaulksRoad is the completed work on Dr. Chima Nwafor Road, Umuocham/Umule/Tonimas Triangular Road and our ongoing reconstruction of MCC/Samek Road and Old Express Road. These are critical adjoining roads which are easing movement of goods and services in and out of the Ariaria International Market, our major commercial nerve-centre in Aba. Together with the 35 other roads we have completed in Aba including ongoing work on Aba-Owerri Road, Aba is back in business because the roads we are doing are economic roads. To God be the glory.
Also noteworthy is the fact that we have commenced work on Port-Harcourt Road in Aba which is another key economic road. I assure you that we have engineered a unique funding model for the road and it will be delivered in record time.
In Umuahia, you are all witnesses to the work Arab Contractors are doing on the Aba Road from Stanpol to Isi Court. The quality of the project underpins our determination to ensure that we use the best contractors to deliver the best quality of work in Abia State.
Apart from Lagos and Rivers States, you will be hard-pressed to find another state within our economic bracket where 3 Grade-A Contractors are working simultaneously.We have a contract with Abians to deliver the best and wherever the best are located, we will bring them to work in Abia State.
In Abia North Senatorial District, among all the other roads we are doing including the Abiriba Ring Road, the Abiriba Nkporo Road, the Ohafia Township Roads, the Eluama-Otampka Road, the Eke-Obuzor-Ngodo Road and the Nkpa Road, permit me to single out for special mention, the Bende-ArochukwuRoad. This road was conceptualized to serve as an alternative to the perennially impassable Ohafia-Arochukwu Federal Road. I had the opportunity to inspect it during our Thank-You Tour to Arochukwu last week and I witnessed the laying of the bridge on the road. My promise to Abians today is that by Christmas of 2017, the road will be completed and commissioned so that our brothers from that axis can comfortably travel to their communities.

My dear Abians, we have abolished the Federal Road-State Road dichotomy in Abia State. For as long as a road is within Abia State, irrespective of the owners, so long as it is bad, we will fix it. Where we cannot fix the road for a variety of reasons, we shall provide alternative roads. This resolve is borne out of the knowledge that it is our people that ply these roads and we cannot allow them to suffer.
May I also report that we have started work on building 10 kilometers of roads in every Local Government Area in Abia State. We started from Osisioma in Abia Central Senatorial District and my assurance to you is that within the next one year, every Local Government Area in Abia State will feel the impact of our infrastructural development masterplan. Going forward, we will commence work on our Trans-Abia Highway from Nsuluin Isialangwa North to Ikwuano and from Ikwuano to Bende. This road will run through our Cocoa belt and drive agricultural development.
I wish to report to you that within the last 24 months, we have been able achieve a few 1sts.
a. The previously intractable Oomne Drive has survived 24 months and will never be a nightmare again.
b. The hitherto problematic Ukwu Mango will no longer pose a problem. Same with Aba Road, Umuahia.
c. Okon-Aku Community has been re-connected to the rest of Ohafia through the new Okon-Aku Bridge
d. The new bridge we are constructing on the Bende-ArochukwuRoad will connect several communities in that axis with their kin for the 1st time in many decades.
e. The 1st Ashpalt Road ever by a State Government in Ugwunagbo LGA is under construction
f. The 1st flyover in Abia State is under construction at Osisioma Junction.
In the years ahead, we will yet embark on many landmark pioneer projects for the benefit of the people of Abia state

AGRICULTURE
As I stated earlier on, Agriculture is one of the strong Pillars of Development of this administration.I am glad to announce that great things are happening in the sector. In the last 2 years, we recovered and revamped government owned lands and oil palm estates hitherto underutilized. Most of them like Ndi Oji and AmaekeRubber Estates, Ohambele Palm Estate, Ulonna North and South Farm Settlement and Ukwa Nkporo Estate have been given out to trusted investors to develop and manage. We set a target for ourselves to raise 7.5 million oil palm seedlings by 2019. Last year, we raised 2 million oil palm tenera seedlings at Ayaba Umueze, Osisioma LGA and we are raising another 2.5 million seedlings this year.
One of our landmark achievements in the agricultural sector is the establishment of a pilot Oyster Mushroom project at the Ministry of Agriculture Headquarters in Umuahia. The Farm has the capacity of accommodating 3,500 bags of mushroom substrates yielding almost N50,000 a day to Abia youths from ¼ of a plot of land. In pursuit of the policy of our administration to develop 3 Poultry villages/clusters in the state, the Ministry has commenced work at site in Umunna Nsulu, IsialangwaNorthLGA. The Ministry of Agriculture has also developed a 2,500 capacity Ultra Modern layer farm at its Headquarters premises in Umuahia with a production capacity of between 20,000 to 24,000 crates of egg per cycle of 18 months. The State Government in collaboration with the Federal Government has also set up an Ultra Modern Poultry Processing Plant at UmuosuNsulu in Isiala Ngwa. Suffice it to say that Abia State has regained its place as the pre-eminent agricultural state in Nigeria.

EDUCATION
In the educational sector, we have in the last 2 years, concentrated on training and retraining of our teachers to equip them to be able to impart current knowledge to our pupils and students. We have since inception, partnered with the Precious Kids Education Empowerment Organization of Australia to bring our Primary Schools at par with modern trends. We have partnered with the organization to provide cognitive and IQ Training, computers, generator sets, toys and modern learning tools for the use of our primary school pupils. We also embarked on a School-feeding programme to provide one healthy meal for all our pupils and the programme has since been adopted by the Federal Government. It is my promise to you today that with all the work we are putting in, no Abia pupil will sit on the floor to study again.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Within the period under review, we ramped up our MadeInAba Campaign to great gain. It gives me pleasure to announce to you that our sustained advocacy for the patronage of goods made in Abia State has led to inflow of over N1.5 Billion directly to our SMEs in the last 1 year. The Nigerian Army placed orders for 50,000 Boots to be produced in Aba and since then, we have not looked back. Recently, Ford Foundation unveiled a documentary it sponsored to showcase goods produced in Aba and the campaign is airing on CNN and other International and Local Stations at no cost to the State Government. We have taken the campaign to the next level which is MakeInAba to encourage the establishment of factories and industries in Abia State.
Recently, I was in China on an investment trip and while there, I met with manufacturers of different products from shoes to garments to ceramics to electrical fittings and ICT gadgets.
A week after my return from China, the investors we met while there started coming to Abia State to conclude the discussions and identify land for setting up their factories. In the next couple of weeks, 100 Abia youths will be going to China for 1 year to understudy mechanized shoe production. These crop of young Abians will be the fulcrum upon which we will launch our leap into mechanized production in Abia State.

EASE OF DOING BUSINESS
In our determination to ensure that businesses thrive in Abia State, we have built a One-Stop-Shop in Umuahia for Investment promotion in Abia State. The aim is to ensure that within 2 weeks of coming into Abia State, investors are able to acquire all the documentation they require to commence business. This initiative will accelerate businesses in Abia State and create employment for our teeming youths.
Beloved Abians, time will not permit me to outline all we have done. In line with our policy of open governance and engagement with the people, I have directed my media team to immediately release a detailed version of our activities within the period under review to the general public and we will welcome your feedbacks and inputs.
However, permit me to state that in all, what I will consider to be our greatest achievement is the fact that Abia has regained enormous respect in Nigeria. Nigeria can no longer ignore Abia State and Abians wherever they find themselves can now be proud to identify themselves as Abians.

Recently, the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo signed 3 Executive Orders into Law with one specifically directing the compulsory patronage of local goods by Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies. I am proud to announce to you that Aba and Abia State is a direct beneficiary of that Presidential Order. The Nation has acknowledged our industry and enterprise and we should all be proud.
UNITY OF PURPOSE
As you all are aware, our state witnessed a long period of judicial interventions to determine the rightful occupant of the seat of governance in our dear State. It has pleased God to resolve all the disputes in my favour. Now that the disputes have been conclusively resolved and my mandate, supremely re-affirmed, it is my desire that we all move forward for the work ahead is enormous. I call on all hands to be on deck.
I wish to extend my heartfelt appreciation to Abians from all walks of life for standing strongly behind us throughout our travails. Your unalloyed support gave me the confidence to match resolutely on despite our challenges and I owe you a debt of gratitude.
I have extended invitations to all political leaders in Abia including those that contested the seat of Governorship with me at different courts to come and let us work together. My only desire is to see the development of Abia State and I welcome the input of all Abians.
Ndi Abia ndi nwem, much as I can confidently state that we have done a lot in the last 2 years, I will equally be the first to acknowledge that there is still a lot of work to be done in different areas. I am unhappy with the fact that although we are up to date in the payment of the salaries of civil servants in the state, many teachers and pensioners are still being owed. I wish to reaffirm my commitment to the welfare of workers and further pledge to find a lasting solution to the salary impasse within the next few months.
On a global scale, I want all Abians to be rest assured that every sector will feel the touch of our administration.We promise to use what God has done for us as a springboard to create wealth and better life for Ndi Abia. Unu ebela, Chi anyi din du.
I thank you all for listening. God bless Abia State.
http://theyoungnews..com.ng/2017/05/speech-by-abia-state-governor-dr-okezie.html

The Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has directed the Secretary to State Government, Dr Eme Okoro, to invite all Abians devoid of their political affiliation, to the 2017 democracy day celebration at Umuahia on May 29th 2017.Those invited include former Governors; Dr Orji Uzor Kalu and Senator Theodore Orji. Current and former members of the National Assembly and State House of Assembly from the state, Political leaders of all political parties in the state.
Also invited are all former Governorship aspirants in the state including; Dr Alex Otti, Dr Uche Ogah, Barr F N Nwosu and Chief Reagan Ufomba.
Other prominent Abians invited include former Deputy Governors, elder statesmen, serving and former ministers, former and serving commissioners, traditional rulers, members of the clergy and all former political aspirants of Abia origin, as well as stakeholders and captains of industry, and all women and youth groups.
It will be recalled that following his recent victory at the Supreme Court, Governor Ikpeazu called on all Abians to join hands with him to deliver "a state that our children will be proud of".
He also informed the people of the state that his doors are open to all Abians to bring ideas to the table that will ensure faster paced development for the state and called for unity among the people regardless of political tendency.
Enyinnaya Appolos
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
26/05/2017
http://theyoungnews..com.ng/2017/05/democracy-day-ikpeazu-extends.html

In this interview with select journalists, the Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, speaks on the successes he has attained in office as well as the challenges he faces. He also weighs in on some national issues. CHIBUZO UKAIBE, was there for LEADERSHIP.
The speed at which Aba is going and the level of development is unprecedented. Since Sam Mbakwe left, no other person have done that. Why are you so passionate about Aba?
For us here in Abia, Aba brings memories that touch very soft nerves. From post war, there were issues that immediately after the war; it was difficult to rebuild all kinds of infrastructure and Aba incidentally was one of the few cities that accommodated everybody. Many of us have fond memories of Aba and that includes folks from outside Igbo land. Recently I listened to a radio program where a Yoruba man was making very strong case for Aba. He lived and grew up here just like my childhood friend Musa who was born and raised at Hospital road Aba. Musa does not know any other town than Aba and same applies to his children who are also here with us as Bona Fide Aba people.
Aba is everybody’s city because everything that happens in Aba affects people, not just from the South-east, but across Nigeria. My electioneering campaign focused on what can be done to rebuild Aba as an enabler for rebuilding Abia and even Igbo land. Aba, in terms of Geography, is strategically located at the confluence of South-east and South-south Nigeria, as it shares borders with Imo, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, and others. Therefore, whatever affects them, also affects Aba.
The flux between the cities and the commercial activity, the energy and power that Aba exudes has become a strong anchor or nectar for all kinds of development including with commerce and industry. Aba has at least 15 markets, which are sectionalized according to the needed items. If you want to drive development quickly, you can’t take away Aba, especially in Small and Medium Scale Enterprises.
Aba captured 3 of the 5 pillars of development of this administration, hence, the impossibility to ignore Aba.
The popular saying that if you get Aba right, you get Abia right is apt. More so, and actually the least important, is that I come from that environment, and I know the huge and enormous potentials it brings to bear on the development of not just Abia but of Nigeria. If we are thinking of getting out of recession, Aba must be the focus of Nigeria.

What has been your major challenge as the Governor of Abia state in the last two years?
Lack of belief. Paucity of what I call a prepared human capacity, brought up and fully enabled for development. By that I mean those ready to catch the vision and run with it. It was a problem getting people to understand that the only way to get a solution to our problems and challenges is to do things differently.
Distractions from those who don’t understand or have proper diagnosis of the people and their real challenges were also challenging. Those folks misinform our people, manipulate and make our people gullible and they sometimes fall easy prey to their antics. Even without evidence of previous capacity to properly diagnose our challenges and proffer right solutions. I look forward to a day when everyone in our state is motivated towards a common agenda, a common good, and a common enterprise because I see government as an enterprise.
My government is not tailored to a particular agenda but holds a global vision and appeal for the survival and prosperity of our people.

To what extent are you relating with Southeast governors to deal with marginalization of the Southeast?
For me as a person, the leadership of the Ebonyi State Governor, Engr Dave Umahi, as chairman of Southeast Governors Forum is a focused leadership. He is handling genuine issues around the marginalization of our people very well but quietly.
I personally have a strategy to battle the issues of marginalization by making myself indispensable. It is this attitude that we are trying to also transfer to our people. Work very hard, acquire as much good education as possible and innovate extensively to stay on top and make yourself indispensable wherever you find yourself.

Given the state that the PDP is in now, what is the way forward for you and others in PDP?
The way forward is to try as much as possible to make your house good. If you have a dirty head, you don’t cut it off, you wash it.

Is Sheriff your leader?
The court’s pronouncement is what matters as regards Sheriff but I am waiting for the Supreme Court to speak.
In some states, governments make sure that federal roads leading to their cities are accessible, what are you doing about this, especially with regards to Aba? Secondly, where you distracted by the litigations and how do you feel now that it’s over?
We are doing all but one of the federal roads leading into Aba. We are doing Aba-Owerri Road, we have mobilized Setraco to fix Port Harcourt Road, and the other one is Aba- Ikot Ekpene Road which the federal government is to handle. We might have issues with the quality of the contractor handling it and the pace of work but we will give them the benefit of doubt.
But even if the federal government does not reconstruct Ikot-Ekpene Road in a timely and qualitative manner, we are already constructing two alternative routes to Akwa Ibom from Aba. Just 7kms to Akwa Ibom because we know the area very well and our new roads are through virgin forests.
Port Harcourt Road is going to be done using concrete pavement. I don’t want people to forget that we pionerred Rigid pavement technology. As far as I know, Abia is also the only state with 3 grade A contractors working on her roads concurrently: Arab contractors, Setraco and the Chinese company handling the Osisioma flyover or interchange.
On distractions, I am somebody who does not want to wallow in self pity and I rather want to be judged as if nothing happened. If the devil wanted to distract me in any way, he failed woefully.
I don’t want the devil to get any glory. It is only to the glory of God. Besides, through it all I didn’t lose the faith of my people. Abians have faith in what we are doing and so I have every cause to glorify God.

How are you coping with recession? Also you are the only Governor in the Southeast in good terms with your predecessor. How are you managing the relationship?
Our response to recession is very simple; promote Made in Aba, local skills and agriculture. One of my greatest achievements is the promotion of Made in Aba across the globe.
As we speak, the Made in Aba logo has been officially launched. Governments pay to be on CNN, but our case is different because an international organization that saw what we are doing, saw the need to promote it using CNN and others. This means that our artisans and their creativity are being promoted free of charge.
People argue about political correctness, instead of economic advantage. We are more focused on doing things that give economic advantage to our people as against being politically correct.
My predecessor respects me and I also respect him. He doesn’t struggle for space with me. He knows there can only be one governor at a time.
Because of this, I respect him, one as an elder, two as a senator, and three as a former Governor.
It is a relationship that is based on mutual respect and understanding.

You are two years, very soon, you will be talking about second term, what are we going to hold you on, if you get a second term?
Even in the midst of the supposed distraction, couldn’t I have found an easy alibi not to perform if I had wanted? Yet our people can judge us and see that we never stopped working and never gave them excuses because we were at all times focused on the things that are important to our people.
I will continue to do my best because there is need to serve my people with commitment. Things got to a point in the legal battles that I had to pray and ask God to genuinely search the minds of everyone contesting for the Abia Governor’s seat with me and let whoever loves Abia more than me win. God prevailed and used the Supreme Court to reaffirm us.

Igbo youths in particular are disenchanted with the present administration in Nigeria. What message of hope are you bringing to them? Some Fulani herdsmen still operate along the highways in your state, like your Ekiti counterpart, shouldn’t you have enacted a law to deal with it? And how have you been able to integrate non indigenes in Abia as we have noticed that Abia has the least record of conflict with Fulani herdsmen?
First, I recognize that there are more Abians in the North, than Ekiti. Whatever action I take must take cognizance of that fact. Abians also add value to wherever they are by employing youths from that place, building structures and generally living peacefully with others. I make bold to state that 60% of Nigerian youths working directly and indirectly through the private sector in Nigeria are employed through the efforts and contributions of our people. It is therefore natural for me to consider all angles in taking decisions. What if there is a reprisal for whatever action we take here, how will that affect our people living outside our state?
We believe in ensuring the safety of our visitors against all odds. So what we did was to create conflict resolution committees at the local government level, after a critical study of the areas the herders live and visit. We have 2-3 layers of conflict resolution.
But the major problem with the conflicts is the inability or lack of understanding of local sentiments and the idiosyncrasies of the Hausa/Fulani man, which I understand because I lived in the north for 7 years. Our conflict resolution approach is tailored to use this knowledge and solve real and potential conflicts.
On youth agitation, it is very unfortunate that a part of the nation feels the need to agitate for fairness and equity within the federation. Social mobilization is very important and even more important than infrastructure. We have not mobilized Nigerians from the centre socially and that is where our leaders have failed.
Every leader should be a vendor of hope. My strategy in Abia is to focus the minds of our youths on hard work and creativity. We are sending 100 people to China for one year to learn how to make shoes. Not because we are not good, but we need to add some icing on our cake. We are using the China Model of technology transfer and standardization of export products. Criminality in Nigeria is occasioned by too much energy and creativity in the youths not finding positive outlets. Let us get it right at the Centre through fairness and equity as well as providing positive outlets for the massive energy of our youths.

What is your take on the recently signed executive orders by the presidency?
I commend the presidency for that. It is very encouraging to our efforts. It is what we have been expecting them to do. But whatever they say or do, it is not complete, until it affects rice, baked beans, salad cream and other imported products that we are consuming daily in Nigeria.
I am looking forward to a time when they will stop serving imported rice, baked beans etc at the FEC meetings and other events around the villa. Since I became Governor I have been eating local rice and wearing made in Aba clothes to support our people.

In the past years, we saw how well Abia performed in WAEC especially those in Public schools, what are you doing in the area of education to ensure that Abia remains in the forefront? On attracting investors, what kind of incentives are you giving? Also Abia has allegedly been the bedrock of kidnappers, though it has been controlled recently, but somehow pockets of criminality are raising its heads again, what are you doing to sustain a safe environment where business can thrive?
Our strategy to develop education is through taking cognizance of our foundational issues.
The problem of education, not only in Abia but Nigeria, is the quality and morale of our primary school teachers. Early child education is as important as tertiary education, if not more important.
We are partnering with Australian school teachers to go to our schools and help in developing our learning environment, information Communication Technology, classroom management, first aid and how to manage children. They will train our teachers who in turn will become trainers for others.
We want to ensure that at primary 3, a pupil is able to confidently operate the computer efficiently.
We would model primary schools to achieve this, as well as embark on advanced teachers training which Is critical to educational capacity building.
In the next 12 months, there is going to be a revolution in Abia education sector. Our idea of model schools will spring up across the geopolitical zones of the state and the Australians will return to continue the work they are partnering with us to do.
On incentives for investors, the Abia investment House, which is private sector driven, is for ease of doing business in Abia. It will help investors get all they need to operate in Abia in at most two weeks.
I have the bulk C of O of 9,000 hectares of land, which any interested investor can get in 2 hours, if he’s interested in as much plots of land as possible. We are ready to give the lands to those who show seriousness in investing in Abia.

The present unitary political system in Nigeria is it sustainable?
In the first instance, there should not be any “federal roads”, because there are no federal citizens. Let the funds for fixing of so called federal roads be given to state governments with monitoring by the relevant federal agency or ministry. Most of what the federal government is doing should be done by the state governments while the federal government concentrate on generating and monitoring guiding policies

What do you think about the clamour for restructuring of Nigeria?
I would say that question has largely been captured in my interaction with you here and whatever I said is my opinion.
But I believe we should start spending time on the way forward in Nigeria, instead of federal government spending too much time on money appropriation. Recession is a huge opportunity and we are yet to fully tap the opportunities presented to us by this recession. For instance, without recession we won’t be working so hard on Made in Aba, increased agricultural production with over 40,000 palm seedlings and a mushroom industry that can guarantee a minimum of N70,000 daily to an Abia youth. Nigeria needs to tap into the prevailing recession instead of focusing on huge appropriations and issues around sharing of money. If the federal government is serious with tapping into the opportunities presented by this recession they should look towards Aba and focus on using Aba as the model to bring out the best in Nigerians.

http://theyoungnews..com.ng/2017/05/how-we-are-transforming-abia-state-gov_22.html

The Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has dedicated his victory over Uche Ogah at the Supreme Court to the people of Abia state, who he said stood by him all through the period of litigations.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Enyinnaya Appolos, Governor Ikpeazu stated that the victory is a re-affirmation of the mandate given to him by the people, and now twice confirmed by the Supreme Court.
He stressed that only God will take glory for the victory, and commended the judiciary for standing firm on the side of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Governor Ikpeazu wishes to call on all Abians to join hands with him to ensure accelerated growth and development of the state.
According to him; "the time for politics is long over, and I have forgiven all those that were bent on distracting me. Let all well meaning Abians, including my opponents, come and join us to grow and develop our state without distractions as we ultimately have stakes in the growth and development of our state and people
"Today, there is the work of Abia to do and history will judge us by how much of that work we do, not by how much politics we play. My doors are open to all, my ears are open to hear and my eyes are strong enough to read suggestions on how we can best deliver greater dividends to those who really matter: the great people of Abia State."
Enyinnaya Appolos
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

http://theyoungnews..com.ng/2017/05/governor-ikpeazu-dedicates-victory-to.html

Abia state has many CBT centers, unlike many other states, and hence needed only 2 days to take care of her registered students.
Is that a sign of the state of ICT in Abia State?
All I can say is that more than 80% of Nigerian states are still writing UTME even when they have less registered students than Abia.
There were challenges everywhere. For instance, a goofy security man at the e-library complex switched our pre-set power system on Saturday night and power surge burnt 38 computer systems at the Centre.
Of course we were prepared for all eventualities and our technical team led by Prince Jacob scrambled late on Sunday night and removed and replaced the systems before JAMB arrived for Monday exam. At 7am we were ready and open for the exam with the LAN reconfigured and new Air conditioners brought down to replace the ones destroyed by the power surge. By 2.30pm on Monday we had competed the two daily sessions without a single challenge.
Nationally there were challenges with the exam.
Some centers were writing exams at 1am for an exam that was supposed to have ended at 4pm of the previous day. Many students could not write at all and so many students lost time during the actual exam because of technical glitches.
The experienced national challenges include power outage or failure from generators that destroyed computers, IP conflicts in LAN, software issues etc.
Obviously most of the challenges are local to the CBT centers as against JAMB servers at Abuja. When the mock exam failed it was from the JAMB server at Abuja and a product of sabotage, possibly by the old contractors. Someone pulled a plug at the network provider's location and the CBT centers could not access the server.
I blame the new Registrar only for not managing transition well even though he wanted to save money from the previous cost of the exam involving about N2b. But I am reluctant to totally blame a man who wanted to reduce cost and deploy local talents to execute a national project. He used a new consultant that is home grown.
His intentions are good but the way he went about it alienated some directors who were used to chopping from the system. Those Directors and the emasculated former contractor/consultant will likely run to the media with stories of mass failure of UTME/JAMB 2017 examination.
We are in Nigeria where a good man can quickly be made a devil without people asking about facts behind the story. But the new Registrar should reduce his dependence on consultants but assign roles to his directors. With time he will get what he set out to achieve.
All the students that are yet to write in other states should not panic. They will all write the exam. I believe the authorities at JAMB are currently planning to move students from neighboring states to Abia and others that have resources to help.
We will surely help if asked to take students from neighboring states.
Already the Governor of Abia State, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, has directed that more CBT centers be set up in rural Abia to ensure that next year folks can write exams from all the LGAs without having to move to where CBT centers are currently available. The new centers will also be used to prepare our students for the CBT exam and thereafter used to teach ICT across the state. We are working on the plan which will involve private and public entities and hopefully it will be delivered.
Abia is not the number one education state in Nigeria by accident.
JOK
http://theyoungnews..com.ng/2017/05/utmejamb-is-fully-done-and-dusted-in.html

Apple ipad for sale 90k negotiable.
07030298647

Applications are hereby invited from suitably qualified candidates for admission into the programs below for 2016/2017 academic year.
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS & MANAGEMENT TECHNOLOGY (SBMT)
Accountancy (AC)
Banking & Finance (BF)
Business Administration & Management (BAM)
Marketing (MK)
Purchasing & Supply (PS)
Office Technology & Management (OTM)
Public Administration (PA)
Co-operative Economics & Management (CEM)
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGY (SET)
Agricultural/Bio Environmental Engineering (AE)
Farm Power & Machinery Engineering (option)
Soil/water Resources (option)
Civil Engineering (CE)
Structural Engineering (option)
Transportation Engineering (option)
iii. Electrical Electronics Engineering (EE)
Power (option)
Telecommunication (option)
Instrumentation & Control (option)
Mechanical Engineering (ME)
Manufacturing Engineering (option)
Power & Plant (option)
SCHOOL OF ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY (SEDT)
Architecture (AR)
Building Technology (BT)
iii. Estate Management (EM)
Urban & Regional Planning (URP)
Quantity Surveying (QS)
Surveying & Geo-informatics (SUG).
SCHOOL OF INDUSTRIAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES (SIAS)
Food Technology (FT)
Computer Science (CS)
Science Laboratory Technology (SLT)
Biology/Microbiology (option)
Chemistry (option)
Physics/Electronics (option)
Microbiology/Biochemistry (option)
Environmental Biology (option)
Library & Information Science (LIS)
Statistics (STA)
Fisheries Technology (FIT)
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES & SOCIAL SCIENCES (SHSS)
Mass Communication (MC)
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
For Entry Requirements into National Diploma,follow the link.
The entry requirements for all Higher National Diploma (HND) Programmes are as follows:
Candidates are required to possess National Diploma in their chosen programme from recognized/accredited Polytechnic or Monotechnic.
Candidates are also to possess at least five (5) relevant O’level credits including English and Mathematics at not more than two sittings in WAEC/NECO or NABTEB (O’level Examinations).
Candidates are required to have at least one year or two years post National Diploma Industrial Training Experience.
For details on the entry requirements peculiar to each of the Higher National Diploma (HND) programmes, candidates should visit the page
It is also important to NOTE that any false data entry during the on-line registration will lead to disqualification of the candidates at any time such is discovere
METHOD OF APPLICATION
All candidates MUST first go to the school portal fpno.edu.ng, under PORTAL LINKS, depending on your interest, choose either “2016/2017 ND CONTINUOUS EDU REG” or “2016/2017 HND CONTINUOUS EDU REG” to proceed.
Fill your Bio-data in the form and generate an invoice, print or copy out the invoice number, (you can do this on your mobile phone).
Proceed to the Federal Poly Micro Finance bank or Access Bank and make a payment of N8,000 (for ND&HND evening/weekend students and HND form for Morning) on e-tranzact platform using your invoice number
Return to school portal fpno.edu.ng and complete your application process. Submit your data as requested and print out your acknowledgement slip. All application procedures MUST be concluded on before 12 midnight of Thursday, 30th June, 2016. for more information call 07082510981.

******Gov Orji inspects International
Conference Centre, Shoprite, Others
.Expresses happiness on the quality, progress
of work****
Abia State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji,
has expressed happiness with the quality and
progress of work at the International
Conference Centre, the Shoprite in Umuahia
North Local Government Area and the Old
Umuahia erosion site in Umuahia South Local
Government Area.
Answering questions from newsmen after
visiting the projects to ascertain the
progress of work, Governor Orji said
that the
projects are dear to him.
According to him, the projects when
completed will stand the test of time and
serve the people of the state, adding that
the Shoprite will boost commerce in the
state.
Governor Orji said he was happy that the
erosion site at Old Umuahia has been brought
under check as many surrounding houses
would have been eaten up if left unattended
to, pointing out that the government is also
doing the road.
He stated that some of the legacy projects
that are ready will be commissioned before
he leaves office while others that have
reached advanced stages of completion will
be completed and commissioned by the
incoming government.
He said that for him the most important
thing is starting and completing the projects
and not necessarily the commissioning,
maintaining that government has signed an
MOU with reputable companies that will
manage the buildings to ensure that they
last

Governor T.A Orji launches the New Abia
State Geographic Information System
(AbiaGIS)
Earlier today, The Abia State Geographic
Information System (ABIAGIS) was
launched by HE T.A Orji for Public use.
Abia GIS is a Public Private Partnership
(PPP) between the Abia State Government
and the Cyrux Global limited, with
investment funds provided by Platinum
Mortgage Bank. The PPP contract was signed
on the 26thSeptember 2014. The key aims of
the Abia State Geographic Information
System (ABIAGIS):
· Enhancing Internally Generated Revenue
(IGR)
· Improving Service Delivery to Citizens
· Accelerated Infrastructural Development
· Stimulated Economic Activities
· Increase Investor Confidence
In order to achieve these aims the project
will deliver the following components:
· Establishment of ABIAGIS as a
computerized Geospatial Data
Infrastructure and a commercial – oriented
revenue generating agency under the Abia
State Ministry of Lands and Survey (MLS)
· Computerization, Digitization and
Integration of Cadastral survey records and
processes
· Computerization, Digitization and
Integration of Land Registration and
Administration records and processes
· Computerization and Modernization of the
operational work flows of MLS’s Departments
and Agencies including: (i) Cadastral
survey; (ii) Deeds Registration; (iii)
Planning and Development Control; (iv) Land
use Planning, allocation and administration;
(v) Revenue collection and management.
· Implementation of programmes for
accelerated revenue generation and
standardization of cadastral/land
Registration databases, including (i)
Recertification and Re-issuance of
Certificate of Occupancy ( CofO); (ii)
Regularization and Revalidation of Lands
Titles; (iii) Registration of new land Titles;
(iv) Property Enumeration and Registration;
(v) Tenancy Registration; (vi) Land use
Inspection.
· Development of a commercial – oriented “
one- stop- shop” customer service centre for
enhanced service delivery to investors,
citizens and other agencies of the Abia state
Government.
· Extending the capabilities of the ABIAGIS
system to support other critical sectors and
MDAS, including agriculture , environment,
transportation, works, housing, mineral
resources, water resources, utilities, health
and education, among others.
· Implementation of a comprehensive
training, capacity building and knowledge
transfer programme for local ABIAGIS
personnel to gurantee sustainable
employment generation and facilitate the
take-over of ABIAGIS system and
operations from the ABIAGIS project team
at the completion of the ABIAGIS PPP
Project.
· Development of a legal and institutional
framework that includes passage of a
legislative Bill to provide for the
establishment and operations of ABIAGIS,
in order to guarantee a predictable and
secure land and property market in Abia
State.

WHO DONS THE 2015 ABIA GOVERNORSHIP TOGA....‪#‎Abiadecides2015‬
A lot of hullabaloo has rend the air in Abia State on what the outcome of the race would be on the coming 2015 Governorship Elections. Most of the angst has been against whence Ikpeazu Victor Okezie, Ph.D., emerged and not the man himself or his ability to govern since no one goes to school to study how to be a good or bad governor. One can aspire to the throne but does not specifically go to the University for it but must be of good character and nature, have vision and gumption and not necessarily the almighty money.
However, I am baffled that what one party is vehemently accused of, others also tow the same line as an aspirant who fails to emerge in one party or who feels that he/she aspirations may never come to fruition in a particular party jumps willy-nilly to another party, shamelessly displacing with money power existing members of the new party who had been aspiring for same position. This leads to the fractionalization of the new adopted party. The old members shout foul and scream blue murder to high heavens that their party which they have nurtured for years is not for sale to the highest helicopter politician bidder. Sadly, the public turns blind eyes and deaf ears to the atrocious anomaly. The said helicopter politicians, no matter which party they dash headlong into never participated in the formation of the said parties nor ever contributed a kobo to its wellbeing and survival. Money is flashed about and wham bam, they assume that the gory flashing of lucre – naira – should win for them the primaries and make them the undisputed candidates to whatever position they are in dire need of.
This is not gainsaying that the emergence of the PDP flag bearer was not topsy-turvy. But he has emerged and it is time people especially his party members let go of their anger and focus on the man himself. The question that should be uppermost in people’s minds is how capable is he to wrestle the challenges of statecraft.
Now, it has been adduced that the man challenger is a great banker, experienced in handling challenging issues and Ikpeazu, could not keep Aba clean as Deputy General Manager of ASEPA. Fine! But boardroom dramas are totally different from State dramas! One inherited an already fine-tuned place of work where everything was working shipshape and became its MD with virtually unlimited powers to hire, fire, twist the hands of people, companies (limited and unlimited) he extended loans to do one or two favours for him. While the other inherited a confused medley of problems that has defied solutions from those who had occupied same position before him. Moreover, he was not at the helm of affairs and could only make suggestions as to how to go about things but could only get his vision to work if he got the nod. Again, the residents must also be willing to change their ways of doing things to make the neighbourhood habitable and not fold their arms in great expectation that only the Government can clean the muck.
Like I had said, looking at the world through tinted glasses when one is at the helm of a small empire is quite different from everyday reality of the life where the citizens are of different hue. The Present Emir of Kano thought the politics in the banking industry equals being a great Emir. To that end he kept making sweeping statements when he was the Governor of CBN. He blamed the President for the monster, Boko Haram harassment of North East indigenes. The menacing group struck the big mosque under his watch, killing over 200 worshippers – the first time a mosque was attacked. Now he knows better eh!
Coming back to Abia case, it must be realized that someone may have the vision and money to win an election but would he have the gumption-guts – to be firm of purpose to carry out the needed sweeping changes to turn things around in Abia especially in Aba where the roads need lasting surgical operations. It is only a candidate from that senatorial zone, Abia South who knows where the shoe pinches. If he cannot rise to the occasion and get Aba going to again make it the hobnob of commerce in West Africa, then he is in big muck as with such nimbi (not in my back yard) attitude he cannot escape the dark murk that would envelope him when his term finishes and he has to go back to the selfsame senatorial zone he comes from and will face the mocking of his zone. All the same, he must also have the foresight to take care of areas from other zones in the State that time and other eras, both military and civilian, governments forgot.
However, when another from Abia Central/Abia North senatorial zones again is in charge, he can let go of his gumption, if in fixing Abia, his supporters who are from other zones and even States tell him that his actions infringe on their pleasure. Presto! there goes the neighbourhood. He has no stake there so why upset the cart. It has been the sad case of Aba. So we do need the son of the soil for a change.
I remember when in 1999, soon after he was sworn in as the President, the then President decided that the Shagamu/ Onitsha express road needed overdue repairs as the agony of those plying the road was beyond pardon. It was the Association of Luxurious Bus Owners, then led by the late Chief Ilodibe of Ekene Dilichukwu, who went to him and dissuaded him from doing so because as they adduced it may bring their transport business to a crawl. Looking askance at them, he however gave in to their plea. After all, the said road does not crisscross his area. He had the vision, the money, and the power to ignore the insane plea but he did not have the gumption to damn them and pursue his vision for the said road.
As the MD to a big bank, the main contender could not ask the numerous limited and unlimited road construction companies etc. who he had extended loans to, deserved and undeserved, to do him a tinsy-winsy favour of repairing the road that leads to his country home in Arochukwu which has been begging for an upliftment for years. He plies and has plied that road for years until it finally succumbed to overuse and gave up the ghost. Must it be only the government that must do everything? Illustrious sons in advantageous positions who are from areas in need should chip in to do something for their kinsmen no matter how little.
Again, as an MD to the big bank, how many Abians especially from Arochukwu his real LGA, or Aro Ngwa in Nbawsi in Isi Ala Ngwa (his sudden adoptive place of origin) did he employ or empower. Were it to be an Hausa or a Yoruba MD, he would have ensured that his people gained greatly from the place.
So if he could not do much for his place and people, why is it expected that he would be bothered with Aba and its environs.
Again, must every moneybag think he/she must contest for an elective post? Can he not just be a kingmaker! I rather think it dumb that one must leave his lucrative height as an MD to a bank with as it is said at least another five (5) years to serve, to come and jostle for elective position. One can, if he/she is good-natured help his people from wherever he is. For example, a private businessman nicknamed Oyibo from Olokoro in Umuahia South LGA, in Abia State, tarred almost his entire community from his personal income. He did not wait to run for an elective position before doing it. He is just a good-natured human being who heard the cry of his people. I too have helped people despite the tiny position I occupy in the scheme of things.
So, like I had said, vision plus money without gumption equals failure.
The party one belongs to or supports is not the issue, but the individual because the party is not a living thing but it is the individual that animates it. A good man is a good man no matter how he emerged.
So, let us give Okezie Victor Ikpeazu, Ph.D., and a chance.

Agbogho, a Social Critic, wrote in from Umuahia.

I know this post is manipulated by your pay master OUK using the sun newspaper to criticize t.a orji and the son . It is obvious that the governor and the son are bent in striving for development and can never be distracted by any form of hatred or criticism comming from his opponents or any perspective .

The governor son has the right to contest for any election in the state or country , and he is also entitled to vote and be voted for , because he is a legal citizen of the country , sooooooooooooooooooooo you can just hit ur head to any near by transformer .

Pix 8190, Abia state Governor Theodore Orji receiving a plaque of
Excellence from the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admr. U O Jibrin after
the commissioning of internal roads built by Abia state government at
the Nigerian Navy finance and Logistics School, Owerrenta.
Pix 8211, Abia state Governor Theodore Orji presenting the certificate
of occupancy (C of O) of Nigerian Navy Guest House built and furnished
by his administration in Umuahia to the Chief of Naval Staff Rear
Admr. U O Jibrin after the commissioning of internal roads built by
Abia state government at the Nigerian Navy finance and Logistics
School, Owerrenta.
Pix 8217, Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia state flanked on the immediate
left by the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admr. U O Jibrin and on the
right by his deputy Sir Emeka Ananaba when the chief of Naval staff
led other to officers of the Nigerian Navy on a courtesy visit to the
governor in Umuahia. with them are some top state functionaries.

Yes of course ikuku is the chosen one. The reward for doing is the opportunity to do more. Ride on, Abians are solidly behind you.

ikuku oma the circle of hope for the youths in this contemporary political era.you have been there soliciting,appealing,praying for the youth empowerment to cut across.you never wanted to enjoy alone...Abia youths are smiling just because of you.

In his thesis The Decay of Lying, Oscar Wilde, an Irish writer (1854-1900) declared that, “The final revelation is that lying, the telling of beautiful untrue things is the proper aim of the art”. If we stress it further we can conclude that lying is the art of releasing information that is at variance or inconsistent with the reality.

Of recent, armed chair critics and political opponents of Gov TA Orji CON and his administration, in their uncanny attempts to sway public opinion against this performing governor of Abia – God’s Own State, have tried unsuccessful to present falsehood as facts. They have been telling weird tales to the gullible; relentlessly concocting and fabricating pictures (both still and video) to goad the naive into accepting their falsehood and make-believe.

Take Aba as a case study; this epicenter of Igbo entrepreneurship has recently had its kismet recede colossally; thus becoming the object of the vitriolic attacks from the opposition camp. Certainly, before Aba’s declivity, it served as a thriving municipality of commerce and industry. It held sway as the nucleus of small and medium scale enterprises in the West Africa sub-region. From 1960s till 1990s, Aba was a town that played host to all tribes and races of African descent who came from Lagos, Onitsha, Calabar, Kaduna, Kano, Cotonou, Yaoundé, Duala, Gabon etc to do business in it.

In retrospect, Aba’s structural outlay was like that of London, Paris, Washington DC, or some few European and American cities which are charily planned and kept. Its roads were neat; the gutters were cleaned, letting current of water to flow ceaselessly to the huge Aba gutter; that gigantic drainage that traverses the town and empties its contents into the Aba River (the waterside) whenever it rained. Its filths were carted away as they were dumped. Indeed, Aba was (and still is) an architectural masterpiece. It was an organized city. For instance each street is separated from the other by a column of ten houses and numbered like that, thus making easier for any JJC in town to trace his way without missing road.

The houses are separated from each other by well maintained sanitary lanes with scintillating walkways which were cleaned up at every now and then. The Aba master plan was strictly adhered to during construction of buildings or factories in the years mentioned above. But alas! Aba lost its glory when OUK who now champions the network of virulent spleen against Gov TA ORJI and his government in the Sun newspapers took over the mantle of leadership as the second executive governor of Abia State.

From 1999 to 2007 Aba lost its splendor, it lost its shine; it lost its beauty and became blemish. Aba declined so retrogressively that to rebuild it will take years to do. Orji Uzor Kalu’s administration encouraged the building of illegal structures such as shops, kiosks, motor parks, mini markets etc on the drainages, open spaces etc, including the Aba big gutter. His government then perfected the process of the blockage of the sanitary lanes which the military administrations before it started with the connivance of some dubious landlords and traders on the pretext of building more shops in the city and giving traders spaces to do business. The result was the colossal collapse of the fabrics of the town. Its aesthetics declined tremendously.

It turned out that what the drainages would have accommodated if they were open and scooped became the burden of the roads. Both the streets and roads suffered high degree of corrosiveness. His attempt to reconstruct and rehabilitate some of them was comical. The roads he tried to reconstruct or rehabilitate failed the test of road standard and quality. And because of their structural dubiety, Aba residents dubbed the roads he built in the city; “Dubai Roads” in derisive reference to some inferior goods (particularly shoes) were imported from Dubai, the capital of the United Arab Emirate.

It is ironical that the same man that laid the foundation for the present decay of Aba municipality under his watch as governor is the same man shouting blue murder against Gov Orji, who has carried out a lot of interventions to reclaim the city, preparatory to its holistic reconstruction.

Under OUK Aba ceased to have pipe-borne water. Other infrastructures like electricity that existed before he found himself in the apex political seat of the state were neglected. Certainly, Aba was worse under OUK. Roads such as: Ohanku, Obohia, East, Azikiwe, Ama Ogbonna, Ama Ikonne, Faulks, School, Clifford, Cameroon, Danfodio, Etche, Ulasi, etc were impassable before he exited in 2007; thus making him one of the most hated political office holders at that time.

In fact, the so called holocaust which he and his army of associates and writers claim Aba has relapsed into is totally of his own making. He is the architect of Aba’s infrastructural and social declivity. If he had done the needful ie laying a strong foundation for a modern Aba that could compete strongly with the modern day Dubai, Shanghai, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, etc which Aba was their industrial and economic prelude, what would have laid at the bosom of the present administration under TA Orji would have been to consolidate on the foundation already laid and work would then start from there.

Even as he was not doing anything towards the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Aba which he and his paid writers are describing as hell on earth; as one of the worst cities on earth, OUK, through his aggressive diatribes against Aso Rock frustrated federal government’s intervention on Aba or the entire Abia State. His regular vitriolic jabs against the federal authorities denied not only Aba but Abia its due share of the central government’s largesse.

Has he forgotten how he made Abia a pariah state; a state where no investor or any serious national or international economic player could do business? Until Ochendo entered the arena, Abia was out of the circle; groping in the dark, isolated and treated as a leprous victim. Even though, Aba has not yet been placed on the pedestal of infrastructural bliss, a foundation is being laid to make the city to follow the foot paths of cities of Asia earlier mentioned in this piece.

Ochendo’s administration has consistently rehabilitated federal roads in the city like Aba-Owerri road, Ikot Ekpene road, Azumini road, Port Harcourt road, Aba axis of Enugu- Port Harcourt expressway, without the central government giving it a dime. Presently, the government has set up another intervention task force led by the Commissioner for Works, Longman Nwachukwu and made up of crack team from the Ochendo’s cabinet, prominent and non partisan Aba residents, captains of industry and civil engineers to once more rehabilitate the federal roads in the city following the subsiding of the rains. The work done so far by the task force has been exceptional.

Indeed, the intervention on Aba has been tremendous; if not for the lifeline thrown to it by the Ochendo’s administration, Aba, would have been weighed down by the neglect of the past. The system of refuse disposal there has been outstanding; never mind some of the manipulated pictures being bandied about by the opposition camp.

However, like every other institution or city that is been started anew, the residents of the city has to endure some adversities. Everything has to start anew. The roads and other infrastructures will not have to be built overnight. It has to endure. What matters is the laying of the foundation. If Gov Orji, after laying a solid foundation for the reconstruction of Abia State does not have the time to start the proper reconstruction then the government after him will take off the gauntlet and do the needful.

But as for now kudos should be given to him for elevating and placing this state on the track of socio-economic recovery. He has laid the solid and quality infrastructural foundation which the government after him will find it easy work on and achieve decisive result that will be of immense benefit to Ndi Abia in particular and Nigeria as a whole. Abians are waiting for the person that will combine the dreams and forthrightness of Dr Michael Okpara; the resilience and accomplishment of Dee Sam Mbakwe, the vision and exploits of Chief TA Orji to take over from Ochendo.

For now, Ochendo has remarkably done well in all sectors. His seven and half years in office are not without concrete legacy projects: chief among them are the upgrade of the civil service, provision of quality education in the state, styling leadership that have compassed a new Abia. His administration has also restored sanity to the polity, empowered the women and youth as well as provided the road map for the much sought after Igbo unity and renaissance. No wonder he was elected as Chairman, South East Governors’ Forum (SEGF) and recently conferred with a national award of Commander, Order of the Niger (CON).

END.



Mazi Odera
Truth is our standard,accept it in good faith or
we shove it down your throat.The Choice is yours.
I am off but on
twitter@MAZIODERAIGBO

REBRANDED AND TRANSFORMING UNDER GOVERNOR, T. A. ORJI’S WATCHFUL EYES
Governor T. A. Orji is presently building a new Abia State for the good of all. Though he was confronted at the inception by a monstrous breakdown in the machinery of governance,breakdown of all traditional values of hard work, integrity, honesty, communal and self help spirit,discipline, transparency and accountability in conducting community and government business etc. He has been able to arrest these ugly situations.
Today weak infrastructure, decline in quality of education and a legacy of impunity are things of the past and no more in the character or identified with the people and government of Abia, God’s own State. Starting with the first ever Economic Summit, which was organized between the 6th and 7th of December 2011, a new Abia as envisioned by her great scholars of international reputation and a cream of other technocrats fashioned out,
“A modern, prosperous and secure state built on the energy, drive and enterprise of its people”.
This new vision was all that was required to under pin an agenda for creating shared prosperity through the development of desirable infrastructure, industry, agriculture and mutually beneficial linkages.
Tremendous achievements have been recordedunder Gov. T.A. Orji as enunciated and enumerated below.
AGRICULTURE:
More than anytime in the history of Abia State, agriculture has received a boost with the reactivation and revitalization of a 5-ton/hour industrial oil palm at Mbawsi, a 2,600 hectare (1,500/ha of improved seedling) of oil palm estate is already in place at Ohambele and 200 hectares of oil palm plantation at Ulonna North and South and Ozuitem – Amamba.
Altogether, 1 million improved seedlings have been
planted at the fallow areas of these plantations.
These excluded the pilot songhai integrated farm on 55 hectares at Okwoi Ibeku for plantain banana and pineapples while another 200 hectares have been cultivated for rice and fish farming at Ndibe-Abam in Bende LGA.
Recently, 55 tractors were acquired under PPP initiative for farmers hiring services. The state has continued to honour its counterpart obligations and is part of the new cassava and oil transformation initiative (COTI). As a pacesetter, Governor T.A. Orji recently signed the irrevocable payment order (IPO) to empower Abia commercial farmers to access the N1 billion Agriculture loan domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The mega farms otherwise called Liberation farms are being established in the 17 LGAs of Abia State in collaboration with ASOPADEC. The project is estimated to create 40000 jobs while a modern abattoir is been set up in Aba under another PPP agreement with an Ottawa-Canada based food company.
ELECTRICITY
Umuahia is the only state capital in the entire South East that has electrified the entire streets and roads with street lightings. It is also very peculiar to state here, that it is only in Aba,Umuahia and its environs, that regular and uninterrupted electricity supply has been successfully achieved. This came as a result of the commissioning of the new 2 x 40 MVA, 132/33kv Transmission substation and the 132KVDC transmission line located at Ohiya in Umuahia by the Governor. That is not all, the Abia State government under Chief T.A. Orji had facilitated the ferrying of the gas turbines across Imo River to ensure early completion of the NIPP project at Alaoji. In line with Governor T. A. Orji’s determination to ensure regular availability of electricity for Abia’s numerous small and medium scale industries, the State is leading other South East States to procure the Enugu distribution of PHCN of Nigeria while at the same time installing transformers in the ruralcommunities.
New Asepa Permanent Site Umuahia
ROADS
Governor T.A Orji has embarked on more than 50 different road projects in various parts of the state in the recent times. While a good number of these roads have been completed others are at various stages of completion. Some of the roads are Faulks Road Aba, Nkata – Alaike roads,Umuahia, Ndiokereke-Ndioji, Abam–Arochukwu road, and the Aba -Owerri road, Aba which has opened up another vista of business opportunities for Aba residents. Also commissioned is the popular Ukwu-mango road in Aba which hitherto had remained not just unmotorable, unpassable but in a very deplorable condition. Ukwu-mango is a very indispensable link into the Ariaria International Market.
HEALTH
In line with Governor T.A. Orji’s promise to sustain primary health care delivery system, he has already upgraded all facilities at the state owned specialist hospital at Amachara and Abayi to the extent that it is the most functional and adequately staffed state owned hospital around here. The Amachara hospital is also an annex ofthe ultra modern diagnostic centres in both Umuahia the State Capital and Aba, the commercial city of Abia with the the new chest clinic at Amachara-Umuahia.
In addition, a storey building has been
constructed for house officers alongside the 2 story building complex meant for resident Doctors. Besides renovating the theatre, work is completed at the accident and emergency units of the hospital. These were executed to enable it cope with increased activities and prevailing challenges. More importantly, Governor T.A has constructed and equipped more than 250 health centres in the different parts of Abia State under its primary health care services and development programme. Each of these health facilities has, in compliance with the MDG been provided with a bore-hole and a tricycle to convey patients to and from the health centres. It is therefore heart worming that Chief T.A Orji kept his assurances that every political ward in Abia State most have a health facility to attend to the health and social needs of the constituents.
As part of his efforts to provide quality health care and services to Abians, Governor T.A Orji is also constructing an auditorium at the specialist hospital Abayi, Aba for student doctors while at the same time meeting the counterpart obligation to the health partners and affiliate agencies such as WHO, UNICEF as demonstrated by the polio-free status of Abia State.
As a tertiary referral centre, Abia’s diagnostic centres are readily accessed by a cross section of Nigerians. Patients who would have been flown abroad for emergency medical treatment are now patronizing the Abia diagnostic centres which boast of world class and State- of- the- art-equipment.
COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY:
The Abia State Government being piloted by Chief T. A. Orji is bent on providing the enabling environment for business to thrive in the state.
That is why many investors are now interested more than ever before in partnering with the state government. The government has signed MOUs with various companies within and outside the country willing to do business with the state. Not long ago, Alkamali Oil of United Arab Emirate entered into partnership with Abia State towards exploring opportunities in the oil sector. There is a similar plan by a private investor to set up a cement manufacturing plant in Arochukwu following the abundance of limestone -a major raw material for cement production. There are many of such partnership between investors and the Abia State Government going on in the state.
The Abia State Government has also taken a giant leap forward in its effort to-relocate the Umuahia Main Market from its present location to a more spacious and ideal place. It has therefore vigorously pursued the plan to realize the Ubani Ibeku Ultra Modern Market project in the shortest possible time after the former contractor handling the project failed to deliver.
At the moment, work is progressing steadily at the site of the new market at Ubani Ibeku where about 5,000 shops have so far been built. All things being equal, by December this year traders will start moving over to the new market while the space where the old market was situated will be converted to another use by government.
In the same vein, the state government has concluded plans to relocate traders at the old Industrial Market to a more conducive location at Azueke Ibeku in the Umuahia North Local Government Area of the state. Government plans to build more than 5,000 shops in the new market while already, about 3,000 shops have been realized. The rest will soon be completed.
Government’s desire is that by the end of the year, movement of traders to the new market would have commenced. Apart from constructing new markets, some old markets have been receiving the attention of the state government. Not long ago, the executives of market associations in the state were provided with brand new official buses for their executives. Infrastructural development of the markets is a continuous process. For instance, rehabilitation of internal roads in Ariaria International Market is nearing completion.
Transformers have donated to the markets.
SPORTS:
SINCE the inception of the present administration in Abia State, it has recorded giant strides in the field of sports. The most recent are:
1. The reconstruction and re-sing of the Umuahia Township stadium/ Upgrading of the stadium.
2. Acquisition of World Class wrestling Ring.
3. On-going collaboration between Abia State Government and Vejie Bold Club of Denmark for the establishment of a sports academy his the state.
4. Signing of the Abia State Sports Endowment Fund by the governor.
5. The state qualified to play in the 2012 WAFU
competition (Continental Football Competition).
6. The state now presents two club sides in the pro-league in the 2012 football season. It is on record that Abia State has over the years produced notable and international sports men and women who have excelled in various fields of sports. Names like Kanu Nwankwo, world champion in power lifting, Obioma Aligekwe are Abia sons.
Recently also, the Enyimba Football Club’s chairman, Felix Anyansi Agwu was elected into the board of the Nigeria Football Federation. The director of Sports, Abia State Sports Council, Mr.Ejikeme Ikwunze was also appointed into the nine-man ministerial committee to reform football in the country.
Housing:
The housing sector of the state has not been left out in the state’s supper transformation. In the last six months, a lot has been done in this sector.
The fencing of the site for the new Abia Government House at Ogurube Layout is nearing completion. The new civil servants secretariat, a four storey building has already been roofed and the other(l no.) four storey building is at the roofing stage even as the old one is undergoing renovation, while work at the 5,000 capacity International conference centre, Umuahia has reached 90% completion. The government has also deemed it necessary to alleviate the accommodation problem facing other government establishments in the state. Hence it has embarked on the construction of a 48-room office complex at the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State, fully remodeled and expanded the Customary of Appeal building Umuahia and embarked on the construction of two massive storey building at the ministry of Justice. The old structures at the ministry have been given a face lift. The modern Abia State Planning Commission office complex has been completed.
Also, the Ochendo led Abia State government has embarked on the construction of 12 additional court halls at the High Court Complexes in Aba and Umuahia. No doubt, when completed, they will impact positively in the quick dispensation of justice. The projects are expected to be completed before the end of the year. The 3(no) new NYSC hostel blocks and 1 (no) staff building projects embarked upon by the state government at the permanent orientation camp at Umunna has almost been completed just as construction work at the Isieke Housing Estate, Umuahia is progressing steadily and nearing-Completion. An initial 30 units of 3-bedroom bungalows.
Renovation, construction and installation works at the Abia house, Abuja is also in progress.
Works on basement, interlocking tiles,, drainage and lift have been completed.
The High Brow Amokwe Housing Estate has been completed while Amuba Housing Estate is also ready for occupation. Finishing is ongoing; works on relaying of interlocking stones is also nearing completion. Still on housing, the state government is extending the commissioner’s quarters to accommodate all the commissioners with additional (6 no) duplexes. The project will soon be completed as work is in progress.
PUBLIC UTILITIES
Abia state government since the inception of the 2nd tenure of Chief T. A. Orji has made tremendous achievements in the area of water and electricity through the ministry of public utilities.
In the area of water,” a comprehensive consultancy services has been carried out on how to rehabilitate the old Umuahia Urban water scheme and other water schemes in the state through the ministry of public utilities and water Resources. The ministry is also liaising with the federal ministry of Niger Delta for the Regional water schemes in the state to be captured in the federal government’s subsidy RemovalReinvestment programme (SUREP).
This will involve the reconstruction, rehabilitation and expansion of the water schemes. Also, the rehabilitation of Umuokpara water scheme has been executed. In the area of electricity the timely intervention by the state government facilitated the inspection and pre -commissioning tests of the Completed 132kv network from Alaoji- Umuahia and the 132/33 KV injection substation equally energized. Consequently, the state government in 2011 awarded contract for the construction of 5no 33kv High Tension feeder lines from the Ohiya 2x30 MVA, 132/33kv injection substation.
The 5 No 33KV feeder lines radiates from Ohiya injection sub-station to the following locations - Afara, Ubakala, Nkwoegwu, Ntigha Umungwa. Construction work along Afara, Ubakala, Nkwoegwu and Umungwa has been completed while work on the Ntigha axis is in progress. This has greatly increased the electricity supply situationin Umuahia metropolis and its environs.
In addition, government initiated and completed the installation of solar energy streetlights in the following areas of Umuahia metropolis-house of Assembly junction to Bende Road, Ndume Otuka Road, Road 3 Low Cost Housing Estate, Health centre Road, World Bank, Adelabu street and Bende road which has reached about 80% completion.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CHIEFTAINCY
AFFAIRS:
One of the greatest legacies of the Chief T. A. Orji’s administration in the state is the
sustenance of peace in the communities. This has impacted positively on development. Through its relevant agencies like the ministry, of local government and chieftaincy Affairs, it has resolved Ezeship and , inter- community disputes in rural, grassroots communities through prompt, settlement of 76 ezeship and inter-community disputes. The government has provided conducive environment for local government administration by taking proactive decisions ‘fed actions on security reports received from the local governments. The Abia state government has continued to pay allowances of Ndieze regularly in addition to facilitating payment of over NI00m old debts as well as arrears of salaries owed by the 17 LGAs and ensured regular prompt payment of salaries owed by local governments in the state. The state government during the period under review completed the construction of the JAAC / Ndieze secretariat crescent with asphalt by direct labour; procured and distributed 3711 300KVA transformers to the 17 local governments and institutions in the state. Government also procured and distributed 72 vehicles to the 17 transition committee chairmen and all Revenue units of the 17 LGAs as well as the principal officers of Abia state traditional Rulers council. Government has also made funds available for the renovation of the local government headquarters and also produced uniform sign posts for them. The ministry in keeping with the governor’s directive empowered 6000 Abia youths across the local government areas.
EDUCATION:
Education remains a key priority of the state
government. Accordingly the state government has invested huge resources to that sector. There is a functional free transport services for students in Aba and Umuahia and this has alleviated the financial burden on parents. Scholarships have been instituted by the government for bright indigenes of the state to pursue academic programmes locally and overseas. Renovation of public primary and secondary schools is a continuous process and many dilapidated schools have benefitted from this gesture.
WOMEN AFFAIRS:
The Abia state government gives premium to the development of women, children, the indigent, elderly and persons living with disabilities. Over 200 women have been trained in various skills. A total of 1500 women had benefitted from the free pre and post natal treatment for pregnant women for the first six weeks. The Abia state government through the ministry has continued to take care of destitute and the less privileged by collaborating with the Itumbuzo mentally destitute home in the evacuation of some mentally ill persons in the state. Various sensitization programmes on child trafficking and abuse, HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, harmful traditional practices, child right law, child immunization, maternal mortality have been carried out by the government.
SECURITY:
The Ochendo government seems to have made the greatest achievement in this sector.
Till date the state government has given out more than 150 patrol vehicles to security personnel in the state to help fight crime as well as communication equipment. The exercise is still on going. Besides, the state government was instrumental to the rehabilitation the Army barracks at Ohafia which has boosted the security of the state. The joint military -police patrol has copiously tackled crime. Today Abia is not only the most peaceful state but the safest
state in Nigeria to the glory of God.
20.Good people of Abia state shun what haters always say about our state. We in Abia are determined to succeed and the present administration is determined to deliver democratic dividends to the people like never before.
21.Delivering democratic dividends in Abia. Abia is really moving forward. Most on-going projects have been completed and some are being commissioned week in week out. Strong indication that the government is delivering on its promise

@sapentie u can get the form in Abuja , if possible call me for more info. 07030298647

You can get the from any of the mentioned bank in Nigeria

Nekede p-ume is currently on sale , rush now and get yours for just 3200.

This is to inform all prospective applicants that the Polytechnic has commenced the online sales of the following admission forms

ND Evening

ND Weekend

HND Morning

HND Evening

HND Weekend

All interested candidates are to visit the under listed banks and pay the sum of N7, 000 to purchase E-transact PINS

Zenith Bank Plc.

Union Bank Plc.

UBA Plc.

Fidelity Bank Plc.

Or call this number for inquiry 07030298647
http://www.federalpolytechnicnekede.edu.ng/news.php?id=16

AN ADDRESS PRESENTED BY HIS EXCELLENCY CHIEF T. A. ORJI (OCHENDO), GOVERNOR ABIA STATE, ON THE OCCASION OF THE 53RD ANNIVERSARY CLEBRATION OF NIGERIA’S INDEPENDENCE, HOLDING AT THE UMUAHIA TOWNSHIP STADIUM, ON THE 1ST DAY OF OCTOBER, 2013

PROTOCOLS DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!

It is my pleasure to address you today as we celebrate the 53rd anniversary of our Nation’s Independence. This is yet another annual opportunity to remember, renew of our faith in our Nation, and appraise our nationhood.

This year’s celebration offers a unique opportunity to share and appraise our collective journey towards improving the lives of our citizens, as our Nation pursues a more robust democracy capable of providing sustainable security and progress towards a more inclusive development of our people.

Our journey towards a viable nationhood in the past 53 years of Nigeria Independence remains a story of courage, tenacity, and commitment as our leaders search appropriate ways of advancing the interests of our diverse people within a united Nation. Thank God that we have endured despite our often conflicting individual and collective aspirations, and we will continue to endure!

Over the years, it has become more evident that ‘you’ – the entire people of Nigeria and our State, have been the only sure preservation for our unity, our democracy, our liberty, our security and our development as a State and as a Nation. I commend all our citizens for keeping faith with Nigeria and for remaining tenacious with our leaders, despite all odds.

There is no way our State and this Nation can continue to go forward expect we are united as a people; and there is no way any State and our Nation can develop except by serving the urgent needs of our citizens. This is the promise the Federal Government has made to the Nation, and the commitment our Government has made to the Good people of Abia State. We will surely keep these promises and excel!

Today’s celebration of our independence anniversary reminds us and all Nigerians that we cannot stand still or slip further backwards in developing our people and our economies. We cannot stand still in preserving the peaceful environment of our State, and we cannot stand still in deepening our democracy to serve the interests of our citizens at all levels. But we can do all these and yet go forward standing as a united people under one Nation and one Federation of shared values.

As we all celebrate today let us keep faith with Nigeria and rejoice that this Nation and this State have been growing, even as the challenges of resources still fail to meet all expectations. Yet our achievements can also be measured in the sincerity, devotion, accountability and the selfless leadership we continue to bring to our democratic process.

Our leaders at all levels, especially in Abia State, are assuming greater responsibility as change agents and laying the foundation for the sustainable development of our people. We will continue to pursue this route.

We are through our legacy projects in the State, seeking to build a sustainable economic foundation for our people, especially in providing for the best affordable health care in all areas and with a world class health institutions and diagnostic centers in Umuahia and Aba that can sustain the test of time and demands.

We are upgrading our judicial infrastructures and institutions in all areas to improve the delivery equitable justice. We have created access to new employments by building new markets to serve the commercial interests and needs of our people, especially in Aba, Umuahia. We are refurbishing our Educational Institutions, improving teaching and excellence and building a knowledge-based industry and tourism in our State.
We are creating self employment for our citizens, especially the youths – through empowerment with working tools, equipments and vehicles to ply new trades, and creation of massive employments in our privatized Palm and Rubber plantations at Abam and Ukwa-East.

We are creating young entrepreneur farmers in all LGAs of our State through our Liberation Farms, and new rural wealth through our refocus on agriculture as the mainstay of our State economy; and we will continue to pursue the expansion and servicing of our urban and rural roads and other infrastructures.

To consolidate these efforts, I call on all Abians to come on board and support our Government, so that our legacy foundations in Abia State will be made stronger, faster and intensive for the realization of our collective dreams of a better Abia State.

Also, as we celebrate this year’s independence anniversary, I call on our citizens to begin to re-evaluate your potentials and re-engage in our State and Nation building. We must move away from the anachronistic belief that Governments alone can do everything to develop the people, the State and the Nation. Our Government remains ready to partner with individuals and groups willing to devote their knowledge, resources and expertise to develop our State.

That is why we are now partnering with some reputable organized private concerns to build a new Aba International Industrial City (ABIIC) at Osisioma near Aba. When completed within 2014-15, this Mega City will relieve other Aba markets, and will be the host of cluster industries with modern equipments and machineries located within a conducive and business friendly environment that support healthy living and industrial activities.

It is our hope that through this new project, we will be able to recapture the fame of ‘Aba made goods’ and the ingenuity of the Aba entrepreneurs. Our goal is to re-make Aba as the true ‘Japan of Africa’ and the commercial hob of the South Eastern region and the entire Nation.

We are also giving support to Geometric Power Plant through assistance in road infrastructure; and to the other NIPP projects in Alaoji, so that their pursuits of a constant and reliable 24 hours supply of electricity will become a reality in Abia State, and especially in Aba, before Nigeria celebrates her next independence anniversary. This will accelerate the pace of commerce and development in Aba and entire Abia State.

I continue to see huge potentials and capacities in our people in direct engagement in the building of a growing, enduring, and a stable economy for the benefit of our citizens. Our Government will continue to support and partner with all those who dare to rise to be counted as champions of our State development.

For them and for every citizen, we will continue to invest heavily in the sustenance of our security and the protection of lives and property of citizens, so that all forms of criminal violence, especially kidnapping will be completely eliminated in Abia State, and our environment made more conducive for local and external investments.

Our Government will continue to build and maintain the cleanliness of our cities, especially Aba. We will address more consistently, our lingering infrastructural deficits, especially in Urban and rural roads; and we will work towards completing our legacy projects in the pipelines. However, I need to remind our citizens of the need to pay your taxes to enable Governments finance our many projects to serve you better.

I am ever confident that Abians will uphold their inviolable contract of fiscal commitment which binds Governments and citizens, especially in a democratic setting, and live up to their tax paying responsibilities. On our Government’s part, we pledge to remain prudent, responsible and accountable in the management of our collective resources.

Fellow citizens of Abia State, even as we celebrate our independence anniversary today, I need to re-assure you that our democracy, our State and our Nation will continue to endure in-spite of our growing teething problems, our inevitable internal conflicts and the many disagreements we sometimes face in our Party politics.

As we continue to endure and move towards the centennial anniversary of our Nation, we need to accept the fact that democracy itself – by giving voices to the voiceless, tend to create its own conflicts. But these conflicts must be addressed in the spirits and values of democracy. We must accept the caution that there is no alternative to the collective unity of our people under one Nation, just as we all continue to seek genuine resolves to addressing existing areas of imperfections in our political system, and do so with justice and fairness.

I therefore call on all Abians to continue to support our Government and the Federal Government of Nigeria under our able President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR for all the efforts everyone is making to preserve the unity of Nigeria in a prosperous environment, devoid of rancor and violence. Together, I am sure that we will reap the fruits of Mr President’s committed transformation agenda for Nigeria, even in the not too distant coming years and anniversaries.

Our Government of Abia State will remain an active player in the search for solutions to the many challenges that today face our State and the Nation, especially in the areas of deepening our democracy, advancing the development of our economies and people in all vital areas, and providing for a sustainable ‘human security’ of our citizens.

I therefore, advise our politicians and citizens to endeavor to promote peaceful conducts at all times, as we all seek to pursue our democratic rights and aspirations even under different banners.

But more especially, as we celebrate this year’s independence anniversary, I call on all Abians to continue to uphold and promote the ideals of distinction and uniqueness which formed the bedrock on which the State of Abia was founded by our fathers, and which is now very essential for a new Nigeria to emerge.

Let us all join hands with our Government and the Federal Government to transform this State and our Nation to match those dreams. We must do so by supporting hard work, honesty, ingenuity, fairness, justice, the promotion of excellence and rule of law under democratic values.

Let us approach the next independence anniversary with hope, harmony, mutual respect to each other and commitments to peaceful existence with other citizens – which are all imperative to sustainable development of our resources and our Nation.

Let us also renew our resolve to making the required sacrifices, bearing the necessary pains if need be, and making our individual contributions in the laying of the foundation for a greater Abia State. Let us support and sustain for the future, the Legacy projects of the Government and its commitments to the new Abia State and for the future of our new generations. Let us support the peaceful transformation of Nigeria under equal and shared coexistence of our diverse people, while we continue to pray that justice reigns through-out our land.

These ways alone, we can enrich and give better meaning to future celebration of the independence anniversaries of our Nation according to our dreams and our hopes.

Thank you and God bless the Good People of Abia State!
God bless the Federal the Federal Republic of Nigeria!

Happy Independence Nigeria

T.A.O

REBRANDED AND TRANSFORMING UNDER GOVERNOR, T. A. ORJI’S WATCHFUL EYES




Governor T. A. Orji is presently building a new Abia State for the good of all. Though he was confronted at the inception by a monstrous breakdown in the machinery of governance,breakdown of all traditional values of hard work, integrity, honesty, communal and self help spirit,discipline, transparency and accountability in conducting community and government business etc. He has been able to arrest these ugly situations.
Today weak infrastructure, decline in quality of education and a legacy of impunity are things of the past and no more in the character or identified with the people and government of Abia, God’s own State. Starting with the first ever Economic Summit, which was organized between the 6th and 7th of December 2011, a new Abia as envisioned by her great scholars of international reputation and a cream of other technocrats fashioned out,
“A modern, prosperous and secure state built on the energy, drive and enterprise of its people”.
This new vision was all that was required to under pin an agenda for creating shared prosperity through the development of desirable infrastructure, industry, agriculture and mutually beneficial linkages.
Tremendous achievements have been recordedunder Gov. T.A. Orji as enunciated and enumerated below.

AGRICULTURE:
More than anytime in the history of Abia State, agriculture has received a boost with the reactivation and revitalization of a 5-ton/hour industrial oil palm at Mbawsi, a 2,600 hectare (1,500/ha of improved seedling) of oil palm estate is already in place at Ohambele and 200 hectares of oil palm plantation at Ulonna North and South and Ozuitem – Amamba.
Altogether, 1 million improved seedlings have been
planted at the fallow areas of these plantations.
These excluded the pilot songhai integrated farm on 55 hectares at Okwoi Ibeku for plantain banana and pineapples while another 200 hectares have been cultivated for rice and fish farming at Ndibe-Abam in Bende LGA.
Recently, 55 tractors were acquired under PPP initiative for farmers hiring services. The state has continued to honour its counterpart obligations and is part of the new cassava and oil transformation initiative (COTI). As a pacesetter, Governor T.A. Orji recently signed the irrevocable payment order (IPO) to empower Abia commercial farmers to access the N1 billion Agriculture loan domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The mega farms otherwise called Liberation farms are being established in the 17 LGAs of Abia State in collaboration with ASOPADEC. The project is estimated to create 40000 jobs while a modern abattoir is been set up in Aba under another PPP agreement with an Ottawa-Canada based food company.

ELECTRICITY
Umuahia is the only state capital in the entire South East that has electrified the entire streets and roads with street lightings. It is also very peculiar to state here, that it is only in Aba,Umuahia and its environs, that regular and uninterrupted electricity supply has been successfully achieved. This came as a result of the commissioning of the new 2 x 40 MVA, 132/33kv Transmission substation and the 132KVDC transmission line located at Ohiya in Umuahia by the Governor. That is not all, the Abia State government under Chief T.A. Orji had facilitated the ferrying of the gas turbines across Imo River to ensure early completion of the NIPP project at Alaoji. In line with Governor T. A. Orji’s determination to ensure regular availability of electricity for Abia’s numerous small and medium scale industries, the State is leading other South East States to procure the Enugu distribution of PHCN of Nigeria while at the same time installing transformers in the ruralcommunities.
New Asepa Permanent Site Umuahia

ROADS
Governor T.A Orji has embarked on more than 50 different road projects in various parts of the state in the recent times. While a good number of these roads have been completed others are at various stages of completion. Some of the roads are Faulks Road Aba, Nkata – Alaike roads,Umuahia, Ndiokereke-Ndioji, Abam–Arochukwu road, and the Aba -Owerri road, Aba which has opened up another vista of business opportunities for Aba residents. Also commissioned is the popular Ukwu-mango road in Aba which hitherto had remained not just unmotorable, unpassable but in a very deplorable condition. Ukwu-mango is a very indispensable link into the Ariaria International Market.

HEALTH
In line with Governor T.A. Orji’s promise to sustain primary health care delivery system, he has already upgraded all facilities at the state owned specialist hospital at Amachara and Abayi to the extent that it is the most functional and adequately staffed state owned hospital around here. The Amachara hospital is also an annex ofthe ultra modern diagnostic centres in both Umuahia the State Capital and Aba, the commercial city of Abia with the the new chest clinic at Amachara-Umuahia.
In addition, a storey building has been
constructed for house officers alongside the 2 story building complex meant for resident Doctors. Besides renovating the theatre, work is completed at the accident and emergency units of the hospital. These were executed to enable it cope with increased activities and prevailing challenges. More importantly, Governor T.A has constructed and equipped more than 250 health centres in the different parts of Abia State under its primary health care services and development programme. Each of these health facilities has, in compliance with the MDG been provided with a bore-hole and a tricycle to convey patients to and from the health centres. It is therefore heart worming that Chief T.A Orji kept his assurances that every political ward in Abia State most have a health facility to attend to the health and social needs of the constituents.
As part of his efforts to provide quality health care and services to Abians, Governor T.A Orji is also constructing an auditorium at the specialist hospital Abayi, Aba for student doctors while at the same time meeting the counterpart obligation to the health partners and affiliate agencies such as WHO, UNICEF as demonstrated by the polio-free status of Abia State.
As a tertiary referral centre, Abia’s diagnostic centres are readily accessed by a cross section of Nigerians. Patients who would have been flown abroad for emergency medical treatment are now patronizing the Abia diagnostic centres which boast of world class and State- of- the- art-equipment.

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY:
The Abia State Government being piloted by Chief T. A. Orji is bent on providing the enabling environment for business to thrive in the state.
That is why many investors are now interested more than ever before in partnering with the state government. The government has signed MOUs with various companies within and outside the country willing to do business with the state. Not long ago, Alkamali Oil of United Arab Emirate entered into partnership with Abia State towards exploring opportunities in the oil sector. There is a similar plan by a private investor to set up a cement manufacturing plant in Arochukwu following the abundance of limestone -a major raw material for cement production. There are many of such partnership between investors and the Abia State Government going on in the state.
The Abia State Government has also taken a giant leap forward in its effort to-relocate the Umuahia Main Market from its present location to a more spacious and ideal place. It has therefore vigorously pursued the plan to realize the Ubani Ibeku Ultra Modern Market project in the shortest possible time after the former contractor handling the project failed to deliver.
At the moment, work is progressing steadily at the site of the new market at Ubani Ibeku where about 5,000 shops have so far been built. All things being equal, by December this year traders will start moving over to the new market while the space where the old market was situated will be converted to another use by government.
In the same vein, the state government has concluded plans to relocate traders at the old Industrial Market to a more conducive location at Azueke Ibeku in the Umuahia North Local Government Area of the state. Government plans to build more than 5,000 shops in the new market while already, about 3,000 shops have been realized. The rest will soon be completed.
Government’s desire is that by the end of the year, movement of traders to the new market would have commenced. Apart from constructing new markets, some old markets have been receiving the attention of the state government. Not long ago, the executives of market associations in the state were provided with brand new official buses for their executives. Infrastructural development of the markets is a continuous process. For instance, rehabilitation of internal roads in Ariaria International Market is nearing completion.
Transformers have donated to the markets.

SPORTS:
SINCE the inception of the present administration in Abia State, it has recorded giant strides in the field of sports. The most recent are:
1. The reconstruction and re-sing of the Umuahia Township stadium/ Upgrading of the stadium.
2. Acquisition of World Class wrestling Ring.
3. On-going collaboration between Abia State Government and Vejie Bold Club of Denmark for the establishment of a sports academy his the state.
4. Signing of the Abia State Sports Endowment Fund by the governor.
5. The state qualified to play in the 2012 WAFU
competition (Continental Football Competition).
6. The state now presents two club sides in the pro-league in the 2012 football season. It is on record that Abia State has over the years produced notable and international sports men and women who have excelled in various fields of sports. Names like Kanu Nwankwo, world champion in power lifting, Obioma Aligekwe are Abia sons.
Recently also, the Enyimba Football Club’s chairman, Felix Anyansi Agwu was elected into the board of the Nigeria Football Federation. The director of Sports, Abia State Sports Council, Mr.Ejikeme Ikwunze was also appointed into the nine-man ministerial committee to reform football in the country.

Housing:
The housing sector of the state has not been left out in the state’s supper transformation. In the last six months, a lot has been done in this sector.
The fencing of the site for the new Abia Government House at Ogurube Layout is nearing completion. The new civil servants secretariat, a four storey building has already been roofed and the other(l no.) four storey building is at the roofing stage even as the old one is undergoing renovation, while work at the 5,000 capacity International conference centre, Umuahia has reached 90% completion. The government has also deemed it necessary to alleviate the accommodation problem facing other government establishments in the state. Hence it has embarked on the construction of a 48-room office complex at the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State, fully remodeled and expanded the Customary of Appeal building Umuahia and embarked on the construction of two massive storey building at the ministry of Justice. The old structures at the ministry have been given a face lift. The modern Abia State Planning Commission office complex has been completed.
Also, the Ochendo led Abia State government has embarked on the construction of 12 additional court halls at the High Court Complexes in Aba and Umuahia. No doubt, when completed, they will impact positively in the quick dispensation of justice. The projects are expected to be completed before the end of the year. The 3(no) new NYSC hostel blocks and 1 (no) staff building projects embarked upon by the state government at the permanent orientation camp at Umunna has almost been completed just as construction work at the Isieke Housing Estate, Umuahia is progressing steadily and nearing-Completion. An initial 30 units of 3-bedroom bungalows.
Renovation, construction and installation works at the Abia house, Abuja is also in progress.
Works on basement, interlocking tiles,, drainage and lift have been completed.
The High Brow Amokwe Housing Estate has been completed while Amuba Housing Estate is also ready for occupation. Finishing is ongoing; works on relaying of interlocking stones is also nearing completion. Still on housing, the state government is extending the commissioner’s quarters to accommodate all the commissioners with additional (6 no) duplexes. The project will soon be completed as work is in progress.


PUBLIC UTILITIES
Abia state government since the inception of the 2nd tenure of Chief T. A. Orji has made tremendous achievements in the area of water and electricity through the ministry of public utilities.
In the area of water,” a comprehensive consultancy services has been carried out on how to rehabilitate the old Umuahia Urban water scheme and other water schemes in the state through the ministry of public utilities and water Resources. The ministry is also liaising with the federal ministry of Niger Delta for the Regional water schemes in the state to be captured in the federal government’s subsidy RemovalReinvestment programme (SUREP).
This will involve the reconstruction, rehabilitation and expansion of the water schemes. Also, the rehabilitation of Umuokpara water scheme has been executed. In the area of electricity the timely intervention by the state government facilitated the inspection and pre -commissioning tests of the Completed 132kv network from Alaoji- Umuahia and the 132/33 KV injection substation equally energized. Consequently, the state government in 2011 awarded contract for the construction of 5no 33kv High Tension feeder lines from the Ohiya 2x30 MVA, 132/33kv injection substation.
The 5 No 33KV feeder lines radiates from Ohiya injection sub-station to the following locations - Afara, Ubakala, Nkwoegwu, Ntigha Umungwa. Construction work along Afara, Ubakala, Nkwoegwu and Umungwa has been completed while work on the Ntigha axis is in progress. This has greatly increased the electricity supply situationin Umuahia metropolis and its environs.
In addition, government initiated and completed the installation of solar energy streetlights in the following areas of Umuahia metropolis-house of Assembly junction to Bende Road, Ndume Otuka Road, Road 3 Low Cost Housing Estate, Health centre Road, World Bank, Adelabu street and Bende road which has reached about 80% completion.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CHIEFTAINCY
AFFAIRS:
One of the greatest legacies of the Chief T. A. Orji’s administration in the state is the
sustenance of peace in the communities. This has impacted positively on development. Through its relevant agencies like the ministry, of local government and chieftaincy Affairs, it has resolved Ezeship and , inter- community disputes in rural, grassroots communities through prompt, settlement of 76 ezeship and inter-community disputes. The government has provided conducive environment for local government administration by taking proactive decisions ‘fed actions on security reports received from the local governments. The Abia state government has continued to pay allowances of Ndieze regularly in addition to facilitating payment of over NI00m old debts as well as arrears of salaries owed by the 17 LGAs and ensured regular prompt payment of salaries owed by local governments in the state. The state government during the period under review completed the construction of the JAAC / Ndieze secretariat crescent with asphalt by direct labour; procured and distributed 3711 300KVA transformers to the 17 local governments and institutions in the state. Government also procured and distributed 72 vehicles to the 17 transition committee chairmen and all Revenue units of the 17 LGAs as well as the principal officers of Abia state traditional Rulers council. Government has also made funds available for the renovation of the local government headquarters and also produced uniform sign posts for them. The ministry in keeping with the governor’s directive empowered 6000 Abia youths across the local government areas.

EDUCATION:
Education remains a key priority of the state
government. Accordingly the state government has invested huge resources to that sector. There is a functional free transport services for students in Aba and Umuahia and this has alleviated the financial burden on parents. Scholarships have been instituted by the government for bright indigenes of the state to pursue academic programmes locally and overseas. Renovation of public primary and secondary schools is a continuous process and many dilapidated schools have benefitted from this gesture.

WOMEN AFFAIRS:
The Abia state government gives premium to the development of women, children, the indigent, elderly and persons living with disabilities. Over 200 women have been trained in various skills. A total of 1500 women had benefitted from the free pre and post natal treatment for pregnant women for the first six weeks. The Abia state government through the ministry has continued to take care of destitute and the less privileged by collaborating with the Itumbuzo mentally destitute home in the evacuation of some mentally ill persons in the state. Various sensitization programmes on child trafficking and abuse, HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, harmful traditional practices, child right law, child immunization, maternal mortality have been carried out by the government.


SECURITY:
The Ochendo government seems to have made the greatest achievement in this sector.
Till date the state government has given out more than 150 patrol vehicles to security personnel in the state to help fight crime as well as communication equipment. The exercise is still on going. Besides, the state government was instrumental to the rehabilitation the Army barracks at Ohafia which has boosted the security of the state. The joint military -police patrol has copiously tackled crime. Today Abia is not only the most peaceful state but the safest
state in Nigeria to the glory of God.

REBRANDED AND TRANSFORMING UNDER GOVERNOR, T. A. ORJI’S WATCHFUL EYES




Governor T. A. Orji is presently building a new Abia State for the good of all. Though he was confronted at the inception by a monstrous breakdown in the machinery of governance,breakdown of all traditional values of hard work, integrity, honesty, communal and self help spirit,discipline, transparency and accountability in conducting community and government business etc. He has been able to arrest these ugly situations.
Today weak infrastructure, decline in quality of education and a legacy of impunity are things of the past and no more in the character or identified with the people and government of Abia, God’s own State. Starting with the first ever Economic Summit, which was organized between the 6th and 7th of December 2011, a new Abia as envisioned by her great scholars of international reputation and a cream of other technocrats fashioned out,
“A modern, prosperous and secure state built on the energy, drive and enterprise of its people”.
This new vision was all that was required to under pin an agenda for creating shared prosperity through the development of desirable infrastructure, industry, agriculture and mutually beneficial linkages.
Tremendous achievements have been recordedunder Gov. T.A. Orji as enunciated and enumerated below.

AGRICULTURE:
More than anytime in the history of Abia State, agriculture has received a boost with the reactivation and revitalization of a 5-ton/hour industrial oil palm at Mbawsi, a 2,600 hectare (1,500/ha of improved seedling) of oil palm estate is already in place at Ohambele and 200 hectares of oil palm plantation at Ulonna North and South and Ozuitem – Amamba.
Altogether, 1 million improved seedlings have been
planted at the fallow areas of these plantations.
These excluded the pilot songhai integrated farm on 55 hectares at Okwoi Ibeku for plantain banana and pineapples while another 200 hectares have been cultivated for rice and fish farming at Ndibe-Abam in Bende LGA.
Recently, 55 tractors were acquired under PPP initiative for farmers hiring services. The state has continued to honour its counterpart obligations and is part of the new cassava and oil transformation initiative (COTI). As a pacesetter, Governor T.A. Orji recently signed the irrevocable payment order (IPO) to empower Abia commercial farmers to access the N1 billion Agriculture loan domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The mega farms otherwise called Liberation farms are being established in the 17 LGAs of Abia State in collaboration with ASOPADEC. The project is estimated to create 40000 jobs while a modern abattoir is been set up in Aba under another PPP agreement with an Ottawa-Canada based food company.

ELECTRICITY
Umuahia is the only state capital in the entire South East that has electrified the entire streets and roads with street lightings. It is also very peculiar to state here, that it is only in Aba,Umuahia and its environs, that regular and uninterrupted electricity supply has been successfully achieved. This came as a result of the commissioning of the new 2 x 40 MVA, 132/33kv Transmission substation and the 132KVDC transmission line located at Ohiya in Umuahia by the Governor. That is not all, the Abia State government under Chief T.A. Orji had facilitated the ferrying of the gas turbines across Imo River to ensure early completion of the NIPP project at Alaoji. In line with Governor T. A. Orji’s determination to ensure regular availability of electricity for Abia’s numerous small and medium scale industries, the State is leading other South East States to procure the Enugu distribution of PHCN of Nigeria while at the same time installing transformers in the ruralcommunities.
New Asepa Permanent Site Umuahia

ROADS
Governor T.A Orji has embarked on more than 50 different road projects in various parts of the state in the recent times. While a good number of these roads have been completed others are at various stages of completion. Some of the roads are Faulks Road Aba, Nkata – Alaike roads,Umuahia, Ndiokereke-Ndioji, Abam–Arochukwu road, and the Aba -Owerri road, Aba which has opened up another vista of business opportunities for Aba residents. Also commissioned is the popular Ukwu-mango road in Aba which hitherto had remained not just unmotorable, unpassable but in a very deplorable condition. Ukwu-mango is a very indispensable link into the Ariaria International Market.

HEALTH
In line with Governor T.A. Orji’s promise to sustain primary health care delivery system, he has already upgraded all facilities at the state owned specialist hospital at Amachara and Abayi to the extent that it is the most functional and adequately staffed state owned hospital around here. The Amachara hospital is also an annex ofthe ultra modern diagnostic centres in both Umuahia the State Capital and Aba, the commercial city of Abia with the the new chest clinic at Amachara-Umuahia.
In addition, a storey building has been
constructed for house officers alongside the 2 story building complex meant for resident Doctors. Besides renovating the theatre, work is completed at the accident and emergency units of the hospital. These were executed to enable it cope with increased activities and prevailing challenges. More importantly, Governor T.A has constructed and equipped more than 250 health centres in the different parts of Abia State under its primary health care services and development programme. Each of these health facilities has, in compliance with the MDG been provided with a bore-hole and a tricycle to convey patients to and from the health centres. It is therefore heart worming that Chief T.A Orji kept his assurances that every political ward in Abia State most have a health facility to attend to the health and social needs of the constituents.
As part of his efforts to provide quality health care and services to Abians, Governor T.A Orji is also constructing an auditorium at the specialist hospital Abayi, Aba for student doctors while at the same time meeting the counterpart obligation to the health partners and affiliate agencies such as WHO, UNICEF as demonstrated by the polio-free status of Abia State.
As a tertiary referral centre, Abia’s diagnostic centres are readily accessed by a cross section of Nigerians. Patients who would have been flown abroad for emergency medical treatment are now patronizing the Abia diagnostic centres which boast of world class and State- of- the- art-equipment.

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY:
The Abia State Government being piloted by Chief T. A. Orji is bent on providing the enabling environment for business to thrive in the state.
That is why many investors are now interested more than ever before in partnering with the state government. The government has signed MOUs with various companies within and outside the country willing to do business with the state. Not long ago, Alkamali Oil of United Arab Emirate entered into partnership with Abia State towards exploring opportunities in the oil sector. There is a similar plan by a private investor to set up a cement manufacturing plant in Arochukwu following the abundance of limestone -a major raw material for cement production. There are many of such partnership between investors and the Abia State Government going on in the state.
The Abia State Government has also taken a giant leap forward in its effort to-relocate the Umuahia Main Market from its present location to a more spacious and ideal place. It has therefore vigorously pursued the plan to realize the Ubani Ibeku Ultra Modern Market project in the shortest possible time after the former contractor handling the project failed to deliver.
At the moment, work is progressing steadily at the site of the new market at Ubani Ibeku where about 5,000 shops have so far been built. All things being equal, by December this year traders will start moving over to the new market while the space where the old market was situated will be converted to another use by government.
In the same vein, the state government has concluded plans to relocate traders at the old Industrial Market to a more conducive location at Azueke Ibeku in the Umuahia North Local Government Area of the state. Government plans to build more than 5,000 shops in the new market while already, about 3,000 shops have been realized. The rest will soon be completed.
Government’s desire is that by the end of the year, movement of traders to the new market would have commenced. Apart from constructing new markets, some old markets have been receiving the attention of the state government. Not long ago, the executives of market associations in the state were provided with brand new official buses for their executives. Infrastructural development of the markets is a continuous process. For instance, rehabilitation of internal roads in Ariaria International Market is nearing completion.
Transformers have donated to the markets.

SPORTS:
SINCE the inception of the present administration in Abia State, it has recorded giant strides in the field of sports. The most recent are:
1. The reconstruction and re-sing of the Umuahia Township stadium/ Upgrading of the stadium.
2. Acquisition of World Class wrestling Ring.
3. On-going collaboration between Abia State Government and Vejie Bold Club of Denmark for the establishment of a sports academy his the state.
4. Signing of the Abia State Sports Endowment Fund by the governor.
5. The state qualified to play in the 2012 WAFU
competition (Continental Football Competition).
6. The state now presents two club sides in the pro-league in the 2012 football season. It is on record that Abia State has over the years produced notable and international sports men and women who have excelled in various fields of sports. Names like Kanu Nwankwo, world champion in power lifting, Obioma Aligekwe are Abia sons.
Recently also, the Enyimba Football Club’s chairman, Felix Anyansi Agwu was elected into the board of the Nigeria Football Federation. The director of Sports, Abia State Sports Council, Mr.Ejikeme Ikwunze was also appointed into the nine-man ministerial committee to reform football in the country.

Housing:
The housing sector of the state has not been left out in the state’s supper transformation. In the last six months, a lot has been done in this sector.
The fencing of the site for the new Abia Government House at Ogurube Layout is nearing completion. The new civil servants secretariat, a four storey building has already been roofed and the other(l no.) four storey building is at the roofing stage even as the old one is undergoing renovation, while work at the 5,000 capacity International conference centre, Umuahia has reached 90% completion. The government has also deemed it necessary to alleviate the accommodation problem facing other government establishments in the state. Hence it has embarked on the construction of a 48-room office complex at the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State, fully remodeled and expanded the Customary of Appeal building Umuahia and embarked on the construction of two massive storey building at the ministry of Justice. The old structures at the ministry have been given a face lift. The modern Abia State Planning Commission office complex has been completed.
Also, the Ochendo led Abia State government has embarked on the construction of 12 additional court halls at the High Court Complexes in Aba and Umuahia. No doubt, when completed, they will impact positively in the quick dispensation of justice. The projects are expected to be completed before the end of the year. The 3(no) new NYSC hostel blocks and 1 (no) staff building projects embarked upon by the state government at the permanent orientation camp at Umunna has almost been completed just as construction work at the Isieke Housing Estate, Umuahia is progressing steadily and nearing-Completion. An initial 30 units of 3-bedroom bungalows.
Renovation, construction and installation works at the Abia house, Abuja is also in progress.
Works on basement, interlocking tiles,, drainage and lift have been completed.
The High Brow Amokwe Housing Estate has been completed while Amuba Housing Estate is also ready for occupation. Finishing is ongoing; works on relaying of interlocking stones is also nearing completion. Still on housing, the state government is extending the commissioner’s quarters to accommodate all the commissioners with additional (6 no) duplexes. The project will soon be completed as work is in progress.


PUBLIC UTILITIES
Abia state government since the inception of the 2nd tenure of Chief T. A. Orji has made tremendous achievements in the area of water and electricity through the ministry of public utilities.
In the area of water,” a comprehensive consultancy services has been carried out on how to rehabilitate the old Umuahia Urban water scheme and other water schemes in the state through the ministry of public utilities and water Resources. The ministry is also liaising with the federal ministry of Niger Delta for the Regional water schemes in the state to be captured in the federal government’s subsidy RemovalReinvestment programme (SUREP).
This will involve the reconstruction, rehabilitation and expansion of the water schemes. Also, the rehabilitation of Umuokpara water scheme has been executed. In the area of electricity the timely intervention by the state government facilitated the inspection and pre -commissioning tests of the Completed 132kv network from Alaoji- Umuahia and the 132/33 KV injection substation equally energized. Consequently, the state government in 2011 awarded contract for the construction of 5no 33kv High Tension feeder lines from the Ohiya 2x30 MVA, 132/33kv injection substation.
The 5 No 33KV feeder lines radiates from Ohiya injection sub-station to the following locations - Afara, Ubakala, Nkwoegwu, Ntigha Umungwa. Construction work along Afara, Ubakala, Nkwoegwu and Umungwa has been completed while work on the Ntigha axis is in progress. This has greatly increased the electricity supply situationin Umuahia metropolis and its environs.
In addition, government initiated and completed the installation of solar energy streetlights in the following areas of Umuahia metropolis-house of Assembly junction to Bende Road, Ndume Otuka Road, Road 3 Low Cost Housing Estate, Health centre Road, World Bank, Adelabu street and Bende road which has reached about 80% completion.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CHIEFTAINCY
AFFAIRS:
One of the greatest legacies of the Chief T. A. Orji’s administration in the state is the
sustenance of peace in the communities. This has impacted positively on development. Through its relevant agencies like the ministry, of local government and chieftaincy Affairs, it has resolved Ezeship and , inter- community disputes in rural, grassroots communities through prompt, settlement of 76 ezeship and inter-community disputes. The government has provided conducive environment for local government administration by taking proactive decisions ‘fed actions on security reports received from the local governments. The Abia state government has continued to pay allowances of Ndieze regularly in addition to facilitating payment of over NI00m old debts as well as arrears of salaries owed by the 17 LGAs and ensured regular prompt payment of salaries owed by local governments in the state. The state government during the period under review completed the construction of the JAAC / Ndieze secretariat crescent with asphalt by direct labour; procured and distributed 3711 300KVA transformers to the 17 local governments and institutions in the state. Government also procured and distributed 72 vehicles to the 17 transition committee chairmen and all Revenue units of the 17 LGAs as well as the principal officers of Abia state traditional Rulers council. Government has also made funds available for the renovation of the local government headquarters and also produced uniform sign posts for them. The ministry in keeping with the governor’s directive empowered 6000 Abia youths across the local government areas.

EDUCATION:
Education remains a key priority of the state
government. Accordingly the state government has invested huge resources to that sector. There is a functional free transport services for students in Aba and Umuahia and this has alleviated the financial burden on parents. Scholarships have been instituted by the government for bright indigenes of the state to pursue academic programmes locally and overseas. Renovation of public primary and secondary schools is a continuous process and many dilapidated schools have benefitted from this gesture.

WOMEN AFFAIRS:
The Abia state government gives premium to the development of women, children, the indigent, elderly and persons living with disabilities. Over 200 women have been trained in various skills. A total of 1500 women had benefitted from the free pre and post natal treatment for pregnant women for the first six weeks. The Abia state government through the ministry has continued to take care of destitute and the less privileged by collaborating with the Itumbuzo mentally destitute home in the evacuation of some mentally ill persons in the state. Various sensitization programmes on child trafficking and abuse, HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, harmful traditional practices, child right law, child immunization, maternal mortality have been carried out by the government.


SECURITY:
The Ochendo government seems to have made the greatest achievement in this sector.
Till date the state government has given out more than 150 patrol vehicles to security personnel in the state to help fight crime as well as communication equipment. The exercise is still on going. Besides, the state government was instrumental to the rehabilitation the Army barracks at Ohafia which has boosted the security of the state. The joint military -police patrol has copiously tackled crime. Today Abia is not only the most peaceful state but the safest
state in Nigeria to the glory of God.

REBRANDED AND TRANSFORMING UNDER GOVERNOR, T. A. ORJI’S WATCHFUL EYES




Governor T. A. Orji is presently building a new Abia State for the good of all. Though he was confronted at the inception by a monstrous breakdown in the machinery of governance,breakdown of all traditional values of hard work, integrity, honesty, communal and self help spirit,discipline, transparency and accountability in conducting community and government business etc. He has been able to arrest these ugly situations.
Today weak infrastructure, decline in quality of education and a legacy of impunity are things of the past and no more in the character or identified with the people and government of Abia, God’s own State. Starting with the first ever Economic Summit, which was organized between the 6th and 7th of December 2011, a new Abia as envisioned by her great scholars of international reputation and a cream of other technocrats fashioned out,
“A modern, prosperous and secure state built on the energy, drive and enterprise of its people”.
This new vision was all that was required to under pin an agenda for creating shared prosperity through the development of desirable infrastructure, industry, agriculture and mutually beneficial linkages.
Tremendous achievements have been recordedunder Gov. T.A. Orji as enunciated and enumerated below.

AGRICULTURE:
More than anytime in the history of Abia State, agriculture has received a boost with the reactivation and revitalization of a 5-ton/hour industrial oil palm at Mbawsi, a 2,600 hectare (1,500/ha of improved seedling) of oil palm estate is already in place at Ohambele and 200 hectares of oil palm plantation at Ulonna North and South and Ozuitem – Amamba.
Altogether, 1 million improved seedlings have been
planted at the fallow areas of these plantations.
These excluded the pilot songhai integrated farm on 55 hectares at Okwoi Ibeku for plantain banana and pineapples while another 200 hectares have been cultivated for rice and fish farming at Ndibe-Abam in Bende LGA.
Recently, 55 tractors were acquired under PPP initiative for farmers hiring services. The state has continued to honour its counterpart obligations and is part of the new cassava and oil transformation initiative (COTI). As a pacesetter, Governor T.A. Orji recently signed the irrevocable payment order (IPO) to empower Abia commercial farmers to access the N1 billion Agriculture loan domiciled with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The mega farms otherwise called Liberation farms are being established in the 17 LGAs of Abia State in collaboration with ASOPADEC. The project is estimated to create 40000 jobs while a modern abattoir is been set up in Aba under another PPP agreement with an Ottawa-Canada based food company.

ELECTRICITY
Umuahia is the only state capital in the entire South East that has electrified the entire streets and roads with street lightings. It is also very peculiar to state here, that it is only in Aba,Umuahia and its environs, that regular and uninterrupted electricity supply has been successfully achieved. This came as a result of the commissioning of the new 2 x 40 MVA, 132/33kv Transmission substation and the 132KVDC transmission line located at Ohiya in Umuahia by the Governor. That is not all, the Abia State government under Chief T.A. Orji had facilitated the ferrying of the gas turbines across Imo River to ensure early completion of the NIPP project at Alaoji. In line with Governor T. A. Orji’s determination to ensure regular availability of electricity for Abia’s numerous small and medium scale industries, the State is leading other South East States to procure the Enugu distribution of PHCN of Nigeria while at the same time installing transformers in the ruralcommunities.
New Asepa Permanent Site Umuahia

ROADS
Governor T.A Orji has embarked on more than 50 different road projects in various parts of the state in the recent times. While a good number of these roads have been completed others are at various stages of completion. Some of the roads are Faulks Road Aba, Nkata – Alaike roads,Umuahia, Ndiokereke-Ndioji, Abam–Arochukwu road, and the Aba -Owerri road, Aba which has opened up another vista of business opportunities for Aba residents. Also commissioned is the popular Ukwu-mango road in Aba which hitherto had remained not just unmotorable, unpassable but in a very deplorable condition. Ukwu-mango is a very indispensable link into the Ariaria International Market.

HEALTH
In line with Governor T.A. Orji’s promise to sustain primary health care delivery system, he has already upgraded all facilities at the state owned specialist hospital at Amachara and Abayi to the extent that it is the most functional and adequately staffed state owned hospital around here. The Amachara hospital is also an annex ofthe ultra modern diagnostic centres in both Umuahia the State Capital and Aba, the commercial city of Abia with the the new chest clinic at Amachara-Umuahia.
In addition, a storey building has been
constructed for house officers alongside the 2 story building complex meant for resident Doctors. Besides renovating the theatre, work is completed at the accident and emergency units of the hospital. These were executed to enable it cope with increased activities and prevailing challenges. More importantly, Governor T.A has constructed and equipped more than 250 health centres in the different parts of Abia State under its primary health care services and development programme. Each of these health facilities has, in compliance with the MDG been provided with a bore-hole and a tricycle to convey patients to and from the health centres. It is therefore heart worming that Chief T.A Orji kept his assurances that every political ward in Abia State most have a health facility to attend to the health and social needs of the constituents.
As part of his efforts to provide quality health care and services to Abians, Governor T.A Orji is also constructing an auditorium at the specialist hospital Abayi, Aba for student doctors while at the same time meeting the counterpart obligation to the health partners and affiliate agencies such as WHO, UNICEF as demonstrated by the polio-free status of Abia State.
As a tertiary referral centre, Abia’s diagnostic centres are readily accessed by a cross section of Nigerians. Patients who would have been flown abroad for emergency medical treatment are now patronizing the Abia diagnostic centres which boast of world class and State- of- the- art-equipment.

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY:
The Abia State Government being piloted by Chief T. A. Orji is bent on providing the enabling environment for business to thrive in the state.
That is why many investors are now interested more than ever before in partnering with the state government. The government has signed MOUs with various companies within and outside the country willing to do business with the state. Not long ago, Alkamali Oil of United Arab Emirate entered into partnership with Abia State towards exploring opportunities in the oil sector. There is a similar plan by a private investor to set up a cement manufacturing plant in Arochukwu following the abundance of limestone -a major raw material for cement production. There are many of such partnership between investors and the Abia State Government going on in the state.
The Abia State Government has also taken a giant leap forward in its effort to-relocate the Umuahia Main Market from its present location to a more spacious and ideal place. It has therefore vigorously pursued the plan to realize the Ubani Ibeku Ultra Modern Market project in the shortest possible time after the former contractor handling the project failed to deliver.
At the moment, work is progressing steadily at the site of the new market at Ubani Ibeku where about 5,000 shops have so far been built. All things being equal, by December this year traders will start moving over to the new market while the space where the old market was situated will be converted to another use by government.
In the same vein, the state government has concluded plans to relocate traders at the old Industrial Market to a more conducive location at Azueke Ibeku in the Umuahia North Local Government Area of the state. Government plans to build more than 5,000 shops in the new market while already, about 3,000 shops have been realized. The rest will soon be completed.
Government’s desire is that by the end of the year, movement of traders to the new market would have commenced. Apart from constructing new markets, some old markets have been receiving the attention of the state government. Not long ago, the executives of market associations in the state were provided with brand new official buses for their executives. Infrastructural development of the markets is a continuous process. For instance, rehabilitation of internal roads in Ariaria International Market is nearing completion.
Transformers have donated to the markets.

SPORTS:
SINCE the inception of the present administration in Abia State, it has recorded giant strides in the field of sports. The most recent are:
1. The reconstruction and re-sing of the Umuahia Township stadium/ Upgrading of the stadium.
2. Acquisition of World Class wrestling Ring.
3. On-going collaboration between Abia State Government and Vejie Bold Club of Denmark for the establishment of a sports academy his the state.
4. Signing of the Abia State Sports Endowment Fund by the governor.
5. The state qualified to play in the 2012 WAFU
competition (Continental Football Competition).
6. The state now presents two club sides in the pro-league in the 2012 football season. It is on record that Abia State has over the years produced notable and international sports men and women who have excelled in various fields of sports. Names like Kanu Nwankwo, world champion in power lifting, Obioma Aligekwe are Abia sons.
Recently also, the Enyimba Football Club’s chairman, Felix Anyansi Agwu was elected into the board of the Nigeria Football Federation. The director of Sports, Abia State Sports Council, Mr.Ejikeme Ikwunze was also appointed into the nine-man ministerial committee to reform football in the country.

Housing:
The housing sector of the state has not been left out in the state’s supper transformation. In the last six months, a lot has been done in this sector.
The fencing of the site for the new Abia Government House at Ogurube Layout is nearing completion. The new civil servants secretariat, a four storey building has already been roofed and the other(l no.) four storey building is at the roofing stage even as the old one is undergoing renovation, while work at the 5,000 capacity International conference centre, Umuahia has reached 90% completion. The government has also deemed it necessary to alleviate the accommodation problem facing other government establishments in the state. Hence it has embarked on the construction of a 48-room office complex at the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia State, fully remodeled and expanded the Customary of Appeal building Umuahia and embarked on the construction of two massive storey building at the ministry of Justice. The old structures at the ministry have been given a face lift. The modern Abia State Planning Commission office complex has been completed.
Also, the Ochendo led Abia State government has embarked on the construction of 12 additional court halls at the High Court Complexes in Aba and Umuahia. No doubt, when completed, they will impact positively in the quick dispensation of justice. The projects are expected to be completed before the end of the year. The 3(no) new NYSC hostel blocks and 1 (no) staff building projects embarked upon by the state government at the permanent orientation camp at Umunna has almost been completed just as construction work at the Isieke Housing Estate, Umuahia is progressing steadily and nearing-Completion. An initial 30 units of 3-bedroom bungalows.
Renovation, construction and installation works at the Abia house, Abuja is also in progress.
Works on basement, interlocking tiles,, drainage and lift have been completed.
The High Brow Amokwe Housing Estate has been completed while Amuba Housing Estate is also ready for occupation. Finishing is ongoing; works on relaying of interlocking stones is also nearing completion. Still on housing, the state government is extending the commissioner’s quarters to accommodate all the commissioners with additional (6 no) duplexes. The project will soon be completed as work is in progress.


PUBLIC UTILITIES
Abia state government since the inception of the 2nd tenure of Chief T. A. Orji has made tremendous achievements in the area of water and electricity through the ministry of public utilities.
In the area of water,” a comprehensive consultancy services has been carried out on how to rehabilitate the old Umuahia Urban water scheme and other water schemes in the state through the ministry of public utilities and water Resources. The ministry is also liaising with the federal ministry of Niger Delta for the Regional water schemes in the state to be captured in the federal government’s subsidy RemovalReinvestment programme (SUREP).
This will involve the reconstruction, rehabilitation and expansion of the water schemes. Also, the rehabilitation of Umuokpara water scheme has been executed. In the area of electricity the timely intervention by the state government facilitated the inspection and pre -commissioning tests of the Completed 132kv network from Alaoji- Umuahia and the 132/33 KV injection substation equally energized. Consequently, the state government in 2011 awarded contract for the construction of 5no 33kv High Tension feeder lines from the Ohiya 2x30 MVA, 132/33kv injection substation.
The 5 No 33KV feeder lines radiates from Ohiya injection sub-station to the following locations - Afara, Ubakala, Nkwoegwu, Ntigha Umungwa. Construction work along Afara, Ubakala, Nkwoegwu and Umungwa has been completed while work on the Ntigha axis is in progress. This has greatly increased the electricity supply situationin Umuahia metropolis and its environs.
In addition, government initiated and completed the installation of solar energy streetlights in the following areas of Umuahia metropolis-house of Assembly junction to Bende Road, Ndume Otuka Road, Road 3 Low Cost Housing Estate, Health centre Road, World Bank, Adelabu street and Bende road which has reached about 80% completion.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND CHIEFTAINCY
AFFAIRS:
One of the greatest legacies of the Chief T. A. Orji’s administration in the state is the
sustenance of peace in the communities. This has impacted positively on development. Through its relevant agencies like the ministry, of local government and chieftaincy Affairs, it has resolved Ezeship and , inter- community disputes in rural, grassroots communities through prompt, settlement of 76 ezeship and inter-community disputes. The government has provided conducive environment for local government administration by taking proactive decisions ‘fed actions on security reports received from the local governments. The Abia state government has continued to pay allowances of Ndieze regularly in addition to facilitating payment of over NI00m old debts as well as arrears of salaries owed by the 17 LGAs and ensured regular prompt payment of salaries owed by local governments in the state. The state government during the period under review completed the construction of the JAAC / Ndieze secretariat crescent with asphalt by direct labour; procured and distributed 3711 300KVA transformers to the 17 local governments and institutions in the state. Government also procured and distributed 72 vehicles to the 17 transition committee chairmen and all Revenue units of the 17 LGAs as well as the principal officers of Abia state traditional Rulers council. Government has also made funds available for the renovation of the local government headquarters and also produced uniform sign posts for them. The ministry in keeping with the governor’s directive empowered 6000 Abia youths across the local government areas.

EDUCATION:
Education remains a key priority of the state
government. Accordingly the state government has invested huge resources to that sector. There is a functional free transport services for students in Aba and Umuahia and this has alleviated the financial burden on parents. Scholarships have been instituted by the government for bright indigenes of the state to pursue academic programmes locally and overseas. Renovation of public primary and secondary schools is a continuous process and many dilapidated schools have benefitted from this gesture.

WOMEN AFFAIRS:
The Abia state government gives premium to the development of women, children, the indigent, elderly and persons living with disabilities. Over 200 women have been trained in various skills. A total of 1500 women had benefitted from the free pre and post natal treatment for pregnant women for the first six weeks. The Abia state government through the ministry has continued to take care of destitute and the less privileged by collaborating with the Itumbuzo mentally destitute home in the evacuation of some mentally ill persons in the state. Various sensitization programmes on child trafficking and abuse, HIV/AIDS, teenage pregnancy, harmful traditional practices, child right law, child immunization, maternal mortality have been carried out by the government.


SECURITY:
The Ochendo government seems to have made the greatest achievement in this sector.
Till date the state government has given out more than 150 patrol vehicles to security personnel in the state to help fight crime as well as communication equipment. The exercise is still on going. Besides, the state government was instrumental to the rehabilitation the Army barracks at Ohafia which has boosted the security of the state. The joint military -police patrol has copiously tackled crime. Today Abia is not only the most peaceful state but the safest
state in Nigeria to the glory of God.

Rochas of imo state should go and mind his business in his state and should leave the people of Abia state alone , because the Governor of Abia state T.A Orji has done more than enough for us in Abia...Just some few disgruntled elements will always say nothing.
This Governor has provided adequate security for Abians
Provided sound healthcare system...
A new International Conference centre is being built by this governor, A new secretariat, A new government house, A new international market, a new modern timber and allied market, 45000 youths are on monthly payroll+ 1000 youths receiving 10, 000 from ASOPADEC. I really can't join those of us with no eyes to condemn someone that has sacrifice much for the people of abia state .