By Anayo Okoli

UMUAHIA—ABIA State government has said Governor Okezie Ikpeazu established the Office of Aba Urban Renewal to demonstrate the high premium he placed on rebuilding the commercial city.

According to Mr. Godwin Adindu, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Dr. Ikpeazu’s aim is to hasten the rebuilding of Aba to enhance the entrepreneurial value of the city and its economic contribution to the state.

Adindu noted that rebuilding roads in Aba and the general renewal of infrastructure in the city were top prioriies for Dr. Ikpeazu’s administration.

He said the vision of the governor was to bring Aba back to its pride of place to enable it contribute adequately to the economic development of the state.

Adindu, who spoke when members of Aba Progressive Youth Movement paid him a courtesy visit, said:  “The city of Aba is dear to the heart of the governor and this informs the reason he has decided to operate from the city in the meantime in order to be close to the people and personally monitor the ongoing projects that have been flagged off in the city,” he said.

Adindu explained that Aba Urban Renewal Office would serve as a key driving force of the administration, adding that the governor would show personal interest and commitment to the activities of the office in order to ensure it performed to utmost expectation.

He, therefore, appealed to residents of the city to cooperate with the administration, saying many drastic measures would be taken for the general good of the people and state.

Adindu said that while some of these measures might seem harsh initially, the people would be happy at the end.