President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday assured of his new investment commitments in the South Eastern part of Nigeria.
Buhari disclosed that investment opportunities were coming into
“Nigeria’s textile sector, of which Aba is a major beneficiary” and will
be “actualized within the shortest possible time.”
The President gave the assurance when he received traditional rulers
from Abia State led by His Royal Majesty, Dr. Isaac Ikonne, Enyi 1 of
Aba at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
This was contained in a statement sent to DAILY POST by his spokesperson, Femi Adesina.
Buhari also assured the monarchs that the issue of “unstable
electricity and other basic infrastructure in Ariaria market, a major
trading hub in West and Central Africa, would soon be a thing of the
past.”
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to rapidly
industrializing the country through projects that promote import
substitution.
The President said the investments in the textile industry would create thousands of jobs for youths in Aba.
He said, ‘‘Just last week, I was in China to attend the Forum for
China-Africa Cooperation. During that visit, I personally met with
executives of one of the largest cotton and garment companies in the
world who will soon establish operations in Aba.
‘‘This is following a joint effort of attracting this investor by both the Federal and Abia State Government.
‘‘The proposed investment will create thousands of jobs for the vibrant and creative youths in Aba.
‘‘I am very excited about this project. I have directed the Hon.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to ensure this investment is
actualized within the shortest possible time,’’ the President told the
visiting royal majesty and his entourage.”
On Ariaria market, the President recounted that during his visit to
Aba in 2015 as a presidential candidate, he was warmly received and
walked through parts of the market where he observed the lack of
electricity and other basic infrastructure for its over 40,000 shops.
‘‘As a government, we issued a presidential mandate to the Ministry
of Power, Works and Housing and the Rural Electrification Agency to
energize the market.
‘‘In June 2018, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission
granted an electricity generation license as well as a distribution
license for the market. This will enable the generation and distribution
of 9.5 Megawatts of electricity within the market.
‘‘The project is moving smoothly and I have been assured the market
will be fully electrified soon. We are working closely with the State
Government, Local Government, Traditional Rulers, Market Associations
and the community on this project to ensure this goal is actualized by
the end of the year,’’ he said.
On security, the President reiterated that the APC-led government
would continue to do its best to maintain the sovereign integrity of
Nigeria while protecting the livelihoods of its hardworking and honest
citizens.
He also underscored the need for elder statesmen, leaders, parents
and patriots to continue to guide youths on the path of peace and
prosperity while eschewing hateful and divisionary rhetoric.
‘‘We must not shy away from this responsibility. We only have one
Nigeria. And we must ensure we hand over a better Nigeria to the next
generation,’’ he said.
In his remarks, Eze Ikonne lauded the President for successes
recorded so far since he assumed office in 2015, particularly in the
fight against corruption, agricultural revolution, infrastructure
development and security.
On infrastructure development in the South East, His Majesty said: ‘‘
Mr President, I thank you for the massive federal roads rehabilitation
going on in the South- East; like the Enugu-Aba-Port Harcourt
expressway, Port Harcourt-Elele-Owerri road, Enugu-Onitsha expressway.
‘‘These roads were death traps for 16 years before you came into
office, but today they are wearing new solid looks, though not completed
but relief is already there with the level of work done so far.’’