In a strategic move to sustain the gains recorded on the ease of doing in the State, make business seamless and accelerate the economic development of the State, Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR has inaugurated the Abia State Council on the Ease of Doing Business.
Rising from the weekly State Executive Council meeting on Monday 29th July, Governor Otti inaugurated the Council which has the Deputy Governor of the State Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu as the Chairman. The Governor who described the inauguration of the Council as a very important landmark in repositioning Abia State towards ensuring that the State has a business friendly environment said that the primary target is to make business seamless in the State.
“Today marks a very important landmark in repositioning Abia State as we inaugurate the very important Council that would be looking after the ease of doing business in the State. The members have been carefully selected and chosen and their assignments are clearly defined”.
“Their targets have also been set. I’m glad that we have made some progress from the Thirty Three over Thirty – Six 33/36 to Twenty One over Thirty Six – 21/36 today in one year and two months”.
“But then the journey to move us to number one has just started and that is the target. Like I have said somewhere else, we are always intentional about what we are doing. It is either we are doing it and doing it well or we are not doing it at all”.
“On the ease of doing business, we have no choice. And, it is not about ranking or rating, though, those are important. But, what is most important to us is that we are successful in making business seamless in our State”, Governor Otti stated.
The Governor said that Abia State is founded on business and that about 80 percent of Abians are involved in one business or the other hence the need to make the State a business friendly environment.
In his words, “This is a State that is founded on business. Eighty percent (80%) of our people are involved in one business or the other. And, don’t tell me about agriculture because agriculture is also business.
So, that underscores the importance of ensuring that we have a very business friendly environment for our people first and foremost and then others who want to invest in our State including and foreign investors”.
Governor Otti said that although Nigeria has made progress in its ranking on the ease of doing business but the progress has been slow.
“As country, we have also made progress but the progress we have made is very slow from number 146 out of 190 countries in 2018 to our present ranking of number 131 out of 190 countries today. So, you can see that we are still struggling as a country. You will count 130 other countries before you count us”.
“What that means in practical terms is that investors who are looking for where to invest their money will consider 130 other countries before remembering us. It is a lot of numbers and little wonder why we have not been attracting the kind of investments that we should be attracting”.
“But, the reality is that the country itself is made up of sub-nationals. If the sub nationals do not do what they are supposed to do, then the country cannot make progress”.
“So, if we do our bits here and we believe that other States will also do their bits, I’m sure the country will move in the ranking”, Governor Otti explained.
While expressing optimism that members of the Council will deliver, the Governor stated that he was looking forward to Abia making quantum leap in her current ranking on the east of doing business.
“We want to come back in less than one year to see that we have made a quantum leap from number 21 to maybe number 10 and then headed to number 1 and I believe it’s achievable”.
Responding on behalf of the Council, the Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Council, His Excellency, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu thanked the Governor for the opportunity giving to them to serve and promised that they will put in their best to make Abia State the choice destination for investment.
“I want to thank you very much for the opportunity that you have given to each and every one of us here to serve and we are promising everyone here today that we would make sure that Abia State becomes the choice destination for everyone to invest”, Engr. Emetu Stated.
Other members of the Council include Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Bar. Ikechukwu Uwana, Hon. Commissioner for Digital Economy, Dr. Max Ekwuruibe, Hon. Commissioner for Power and Utility, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, Hon. Commissioner for Trade, Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu, Hon. Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Kingsley Anosike, Hon. Commissioner for Land and Housing, Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije, Hon. Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, Special Adviser on Security, Cmdr. Macdonald Ubah (Rtd), Principal Secretary to the Governor and Chief Strategy Officer to Abia State Government, Mr. Chinenye Mba Uzoukwu and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Ease of Doing Business, Mrs. Agbonma J. Ukaobasi Esq. will serve as the Secretary of the Council.
Ctz. Ukoha Njoku Ukoha
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State.
29-07-2024
