Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, has declared that it amounts to economic sabotage to build roads without drainages.
Ikpeazu who made the declaration while speaking during a book launch in his honour at the International Conference Centre Umuahia, said that his administration as a matter of policy, has resolved never to build a road without water drainage to ensure its durability.
He said it made no economic sense for Government to embark on road projects which is usually costly without provisions for flood waters only for such roads to be washed away by flood shortly afterwards.
” If you build roads that cannot outlive your tenure, it amounts to economic sabotage”, he declared amidst thunderous ovation by the mammoth crowd.
Ikpeazu said the his quest to improve on the economic wellbeing of Abians made him champion the campaign for made- in – Aba products, an effort he said had started yielding dividends following the increased demand (both local and international) for Aba products.
He said that when he came on board, he decided to be wearing only locally- made foot wears and clothes with ” proudly made in Aba ” branded on it, a decision he said had made local manufacturers to be proud of their products unlike before when such products were labelled ” made in Italy or Spain” for greater patronage.
Ikpeazu who promised to continue to promote made – in- Aba products disclosed that the first batch of 30 Abians who were sponsored to China by the state government to understudy shoe automation would begin production before December as the equipment ” for the first ever made in Aba products” ordered by the state government had arrived.
The book written by a team of researchers from the Abia State University Uturu ( ABSU) captured the various land achievements and developmental strides of Gov. Ikpeazu who is also a voluntary lecturer at the university.
Vice Chancellor, Professor Uche Ikonne, had said the proceeds of the book launch would be dedicated to the building and equipment of Post Graduate Biotechnology laboratory in the institution.
Meanwhile, it was naira rain as eminent personalities from all walks of life donated towards the project with the highest single individual donation coming from the son of the late Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Chima Nwafor, Mr. Enyinnaya Nwafor.
The glamorous event chaired by former Common Wealth Secretary, Chief Emeka Anyoku was graced by eminent Nigerians including Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State; former Ohanaeze Secretary, Joe Irukwu; forever Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; and Gen. Ike Nwachukwu ( retd), among others.
