HISTORY: Abia State Nigeria Was Carved out of Old Imo State on August 27, 1991 with Umuahia As Its Capital
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iI HISTORY: Abia State Nigeria was carved out of old Imo State on August 27, 1991 with Umuahia as its capital. The State is made up of seventeen (17) Local Government Areas. It is one of the five states in the Southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria. The name ABIA was coined from the first letters of the names of the geo-political groups that originally made up the State, namely: Aba, Bende, Isuikwuato and Afikpo. Today, Afikpo is in Ebonyi State that was created in October, 1996. GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION AND CLIMATE: Abia State is situated between latitudes 04°45' and 06° 07f north and longitudes 07° 00' and 08° IO1 east. Imo, Anambra and Rivers border it in the west, northwest and southwest respectively. AN INVESTMENT HAVEN GUIDE TO INVESTMENT IN ABIA STATE To the north, northeast, east and southeast, it is bordered by Enugu, Ebonyi, Cross-River an Akwa Ibom States respectively. It belongs to the Southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria and covers a landmass of 5,833.77 sq. km. The State is located within the forest belt of Nigeria with a temperature range of between 20°C -36°C lying within the tropics. It has the dry and rainy seasons - (October - March and April September respectively). POPULATION: By the projection of the National Bureau of Statistics, based on the 1991 census figure of I. million, Abia State was expected to have a population of 3.51 million. In 2006 the National Population Commission allocated 2,833,999 as the population of Abia State. This figure is being contested at the population tribunal. The basis being that the survey carried out in Aba showed that Aba alone has 1.5m houses. Taking each building to house four (4) persons, conservative figure), it means that Aba alone has a population of at the least 6.0m. When the other towns and communities are put into consideration, then Abia is well over 10 million people. PEOPLE & CULTURE Culture is the way of life of a people. It concerns all the interests of the people and is evolved in an attempt by a people to meet the challenge of living in their environment. Culture gives order and meaning to the people's social, political, economic, aesthetic and religious norms and organizations thus distinguishing a people from their neighbors. Abia people are of Igbo extraction living with people of other ethnic origin as well as some foreign nationals. These people live and work in the State in a very peaceful and congenial atmosphere. The native language is Igbo while the official language is English. The Igbos are known to be industrious, creative, dynamic, hospitable, republican and are found in other parts of Nigeria (no matter how remote). They are largely Christians. In the northern and part of the central zones of the State, the Age Grade System drives community development. In the southern and the remaining part of the central zone, development is driven by Community Development Associations. Women also play significant roles in community development. Crafts abound and are identifiable with some areas. For example, Akwette is known for weaving Akwette cloth, which is a beauty to behold with very colorful designs; Uturu is notable for Mat, Basket (Nkata) and Thatch (Akrika) making. Culture is not merely a return to the customs of the past; rather it embodies the attitude of the people to the future of its traditional values in a world, which has become a global village. Culture, therefore, has become an essential factor of development and progress and the fountain spring of all policies whether educational, social, political or economic. OCCUPATION The major occupation of the people is agriculture especially in the rural areas. Over 70% of the population is involved in agriculture as an occupation. This is supported by the rich soil in most parts of the State. The major food crops identified with the State and cultivated in large quantities are Oil Palm, Cocoa, Rubber, Cassava, Yam, Cashew, Kolanuts and Coconut. The people also engage in livestock and fish farming. Apart from agriculture, commerce is another major occupation of the people of Abia State. The Ariaria International Market Aba, which is one of the largest markets in the West African sub-region and contributes greatly to commerce in Nigeria INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE The State boasts of a number of industries, which, among others include Aba Textile Mills Pic (not producing meanwhile), Star Paper Mills, Aba, International Glass Industries Ltd., Unilever Pic, and PZ Pic. International Equitable Association of Nigeria (all in Aba), Guinness Nigeria Plc., Osisioma, Golden Guinea Breweries Pic, Umuahia (which has been out of production for some time now but undergoing rehabilitation and refurbishment), Abia Golden Chicken Ltd, Ogwe (being privatized), the Metallurgical complex (privatized) and the Power Plant Projects at Umuobasiukwu in Ugwunagbo LGA. There is also the Modern Ceramics Umuahia, which was recently privatized and reactivated and now called UCL Modern Ceramics Ltd, Abia Palm Company was also privatized and reactivated and now goes by the name Fri-el Abia Palm Company Ltd. Ohambele. The last two are under PPP arrangement. There are many other Small and Medium-scale industries that are into Paints, Vegetable Oil, and Lubricants production. The impact in the industrial sector that the Aba small-scale artisans have made as a result of their ingenuity and technical and innovative prowess has earned Aba the name "JAPAN OF AFRICA". The products of all these Micro-Industrial concerns find their way into local and International markets. By the collaborative effort of UNIDO, Federal Government of Nigeria, Abia State Government and some entrepreneurs at Aba, a Common Facility Centre (CFC) has been put in place with the company registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria. This is a PPP arrangement. Abia State has vibrant SMEs and effective Chambers of Commerce and Industry in Aba and Umuahia. There is an expected increase in commerce following the Inland Container Depot project at Isiala Ngwa, which the Abia State Government is effectively participating in. POLICY THRUST The State's thrust is clear. It is in tandem with the current Federal Government agenda on socio economic development as well as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It is expected that by the year 2020 Abia State would have overcome up to 50% of its housing problem, ensured that it does not only increase its agriculture produce (cash and food crops) for life sustenance, but would have put "mi place processes to add value to the produce to attract better revenue. It is noteworthy that Abia State is collaborating with the National Independent Power Project (NIPP), to build a Power Plant at Umuobasiukwu in Ugwunagbo, which when completed will give life to inventions, innovations etc. in Aba the "Japan of Africa". With these, more SMEs will return to business, more employment would be created and poverty drastically alleviated. At the nations level, the state would have contributed greatly to the GDP. AGRICULTURE Provide an enabling environment (like incentives and tax holiday) for the private sector to thrive and also attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI); Adopt a Participatory approach in agricultural production - provision of infrastructure for preservation and processing of agricultural products avail farmers of high yielding disease-free agricultural inputs. WORKS & TRANSPORT -Aggressively rehabilitate and construct roads to ease communication and flow of goods. EDUCATION While looking at avenues that will help create employment and reduce poverty, the State recognizes that education is critical in manpower development. The State is working to provide and sustain qualitative education through increased investment in infrastructures, scholarship awards, and payment of counterpart cash contribution on MDGs. HEALTH Health is an area that will create good environment for investors and economic well being of the people. To ensure unhindered qualitative and affordable health care delivery to meet MDGs. The State has adopted PPP approach in the primary, secondary and tertiary health care system. The State has partnered with a private firm (MECURE) to put in place two world class Specialist and Diagnostic centres in the capital city Umuahia and Aba the commercial hub with annexes across the State. H O U S I N G Provide affordable housing through PPP. Other areas of the Government Policy thrust are: Provision of safe and potable water Security for all, Security will create good environment for investors and economic well being of the people. The State is in partnership with its citizens and security agencies to sustain the present low level of crime while targeting a zero crime rate environment. Good governance and Due Process: Abia is committed to meeting the benchmark for good governance. The State has involved experts, local and foreign to support its institutional capacity. Accountability is the watchword amongst workers and the cost of doing business has been made suitable for investors. ABIA STATE RELATIONSHIPS WITH INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES World Bank Programs/projects: ABCPRP, which terminated in 2009 CSDP, which was launched in the State in March 2010 FAD AM A III HSDPII OTHER INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES PROGRAMMES UNFPA UNICEF IFAD-CBNRMP IFAD/I1TA/CMD-CED/ICP UNITAR EU/MP EU/MPP launched in 2010 UNDP Country Programme UNIDO Partnership with the State at the Common Facility Centre, Aba. USEFUL CONTACTS [email protected] [email protected] [email protected], Commissioner for Commerce and Industry [email protected] PA to the Executive Governor [email protected] Chief Economic Adviser [email protected] SA Trade and Investment/PPP AN OVERVIEW OF SECTORS IN ABIA STATE AND AREAS OF POSSIBLE INVESTMENT ELECTRIC POWER Abia State is at an advantaged position as far as power generation is concerned.