Abia applauds FGs policy on Made-in-Nigeria goods

…concludes arrangement to receive Osinbajo

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State has expressed satisfaction over the attention the Federal Government is giving to the promotion of Made-in-Nigeria goods.

This is as the state government has concluded arrangements to host Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who is expected in Aba, Thursday to launch the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Clinic (The MSME Clinic), a project planned to create a platform to boost the performance of MSMEs in Nigeria.

The governor, while hosting an advanced team from the office of the vice president-led by Tola Johnson, his special assistant on MSME, stated that a strong manufacturing sector would help the country to diversify its economy and get it out of recession.

Ikpeazu, expressed deep satisfaction that the federal government is recognizing the modest efforts of his government in the promotion of micro, small and medium entrepreneurship, noting that the only way forward for Nigeria, as a country is to strengthen local manufacturing concerns in every aspect.

He pledged the commitment of his government and his own personal commitment to this objective, adding that he will do everything possible to provide support for these artisans and manufacturers, noting that Aba has the potential to lead the march for a new Nigeria.

The governor further requested that the vice president also comes with the leadership of the NDDC to come and explain why they have abandoned Ohanku and Obohia roads in Aba, after initially awarding the contract for their rehabilitation, leading to a contractual impasse, which has stopped his government from commencing the rehabilitation of those two key roads in Aba.

He thanked the vice president for the choice of Aba for this event, a choice he described as natural since Aba is clearly the leader in this area and has so been for several decades.

He also used the opportunity to remind the federal government of the very precarious state of federal roads in the state, which remains one of the biggest challenges to the growth of small businesses in the state.

He gave an example with Port Harcourt Road, which houses one of the largest iron and steel fabricating indigenous initiatives in Nigeria, but cannot be assessed, due to the state of the road, which is a federal road.

He told the team that the fabrication that goes on at Port Harcourt road is the largest in the country, adding that there is no kind of steel tool that cannot be fabricated at Port Harcourt road. Indeed, the management of Nigerian Breweries has relied on PH Road for owner three decades for the fabrication of tools used in thwarting breweries across the country.

The governor told the team that the desire to provide an enabling environment for the growth of the Aba business community explains the massive investment in roads in the town. He gave examples with the ongoing rehabilitation of Faulks Road and the launch of the Osisioma interchange.