Something is brewing, some things are changing and people are becoming wiser. Anybody who thinks that things will always be as they are because they were meant to be so is either deluded or irrational.
Aba, Enyimba City, the commercial hub of Abia State and the melting pot of business of the Old Eastern Nigeria and of course the industrial and commercial nerve centre of South Eastern Nigeria must either be fixed now or get ruined in oblivion.
The government of Abia State must realize that the comparative advantage Aba once had over her neighbours that made her dominate and be tagged the Japan of Africa is gradually dwindling as many neighboring states are gradually catching up.
What made Aba special? The answer is simply the location of major industries there and the massive concentration of the best artisans and creative minds in all manner of local production from clothing, shoes, bags and textiles.
Other things include the presence of major importers that have the money to move in most needed goods in the markets and of course, the presence of large markets and outlet shops where customers come, buy and go back to their bases.
From the above-listed elements that made Aba great, it is obvious that none of those efforts come from the government. It has always been individual, group and communal efforts that made this great city what it is until what is happening today.
The dominance of Aba as a major commercial hub in West Africa has lasted for more than a hundred years, but will it continue? Facts on the ground show that it may not because the neighbouring South East States and South South States are waking up faster.
For those in the South-South, they are not waking up by competing with Aba in creativity. What they have succeeded in doing is to create enabling environment where people can do business and live a better life.
If someone is seriously concerned about the future of Aba, then what happened within Ogbunike and Nkwelle-Ezunaka in Oyi LGA of Anambra State last week should have sent a warning signal that a new and a better frontier of leather products has emerged.
It is no longer news that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo inaugurated an ultra-modern industrial shoe-making hub said to be equipped with cutting-edge technology in Anambra last week Tuesday.
What is more interesting is the location. The Nkwelle-Ezunaka and Ogbunike axes of Oyi LGA together with Ogidi and Nkpor towns in Idemili North LGA are forming new cities in Anambra that will join with Onitsha and Awka sooner than later.
An Osinbajo who was so delighted about the place described the complex as a “one-stop-shop digital leather and industrial hub” that could make shoes that were comparable to those made in Europe.
The vice president said that the project represents the nerve centre of the Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Nigeria, stressing that the Federal Government was fully committed to improving the commercial and economic environment and willing to complete all its ongoing projects in the South-East.
Osinbajo also stated that the project was launched to support the country’s drive to industrialize the shoe and leather industries as News Echo gathered that the complex was jointly equipped by the federal government in conjunction with Anambra State Government.
If Abia State Government did not get any message from what Osinbajo said, what Gov. Willie Obiano said about the complex as “the ideal intersection of dream and opportunity “should have meant more because Obiano’s words were straightforward.
“It is the day when the Industrialization Pillar of my Economic Blueprint finally takes firm root. This is Nigeria’s most modern Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) complex.
“It houses an ultra-modern industrial shoe-making hub with cutting edge technology, having the capacity to produce shoes that compare at all levels with shoes made in Europe.
“This complex also houses nine agencies that play critical roles in nurturing the industrial sector of the country.”
News Echo also learnt that Bank of Industry, Nigerian Standard Organisation, Corporate Affairs Commission, Nigerian Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency, and Nigerian Export Promotion Council are among the agencies Obiano named that are there.
It was also gathered that the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, the Industrial Training Fund, the National Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise Clinics for Viable Enterprises, and the Anambra State Small Business Agency, ASSBA, are among the others.
With the above complex, what do you think will happen? Do you think some Ariaria, Bakassi, Umuihelegbu, Powerline and Samek Shoemakers in Aba will not want to do business in such an organized environment? Do you think they are not interested in such a standard?
Do you think they all will decide to keep swimming in and out of their business premises as they do currently in Aba rather than relocating to an ideal environment where business is done properly? Be the judge.
Another sweet thing about the complex in Anambra is that people do not know that it is just a few minutes drive to Onitsha main market where every needed raw material can be gotten easily and affordable because Onitsha just like Aba has a huge concentration of importers as well.
The complex is also not more than 33 minutes drive from the Anambra Cargo Airport in Umueri because the accurate distance is just 21.5km from Nkisi Road via Nsugbe town in Anambra East LGA.
The presence of that Airport gives the Anambra Shoe Complex a huge edge over whatever is happening in Aba in terms of accessibility within Nigeria, West Africa, Central and East African customers.
Many Nigerians are not aware that hotels in Aba from Monday to Friday host visitors from other African cities and countries like Mamfe, Buea and Kumba all in Cameroun, Bioko (Fernando Po), Malabo (Santa Isabel) and Bata in Equatorial Guinea, Brazzaville and Bangui in Gabon and Central Africa. Some come from even N’Djamena and Niamey in Chad and Niger.
For a city without an airport, proper functioning Railway and any seaport, Aba’s status as a commercial city over many decades now is threatened by her lack of development and the speed of development from her neighbours.
Among all MSME clusters in Aba, none is currently saved from deplorable bad roads that scare customers. Yes, Abia State Government is trying to fix those areas, but the speed at which these works are done is beginning to send the wrong message of lack of seriousness to so many people.
Ariaria International Market turns to the home of frogs and toads whenever it rains overnight. The Ahia-Ohuru located at the flood-prone Ndiegoro axis of Aba is not left out of the hazardous environment after every downpour. The Amammogho and Kent Fashion Designers Clusters are facing challenges as well. Time is running out on Aba seriously.
“I am a fashion designer. I’m currently based in Uyo. I grew up in Aba and I started my fashion designing business there, but I couldn’t stand the environment there anymore. You know as boys back then, we saw the situation of Aba as nothing, but after my education, I have to seek an alternative place to do something better and also build a family.
“I’m from Abia, I’m not saying people aren’t there now, but you can’t compare what it offers to what Uyo offers. If they fix Aba, it’ll arguably be the best place to be in Nigeria, but now, I’m happy in Uyo and more of our people are relocating here.
“I don’t understand why one will make money and struggle to enjoy it or live comfortably due to terrible environment,” Samuel Kalu Idika, a fashion designer from Ohafia who currently based in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom state said.
Investigation shows that majority of the new fashion designers springing out in Owerri, the Imo State capital are from Aba and decided to relocate due to obvious circumstances. Some of them came to Federal Polytechnic, Nekede to study; some came to Imo State University to study as well. However, after graduation, they find it extremely difficult to return to Aba because they cannot stand the environment.
What danger does this portend for Aba? It sends wrong and dangerous signals of population relocation and shifting of creative minds to areas that commands the largest number of customers that visit the city within Nigeria.
If young fashion designers from Aba who decided to add tertiary education to their already gotten skills decide to take their businesses closer to places like Port Harcourt, Uyo, Calabar, Owerri, Abakiliki, Awka, Asaba, Benin and Yenagoa what will happen to the strength of visitors Aba receives?
An investigation by News Echo reveals that of recent, majority of people that now visit Aba come for buying of raw materials from the markets and not the finished goods. Yes, some people still come for the finished goods especially on leatherwear and even clothing, but something should be done now than later.
One would have expected that when a state owns a city that attracts more foreign visitors than all the tourist attraction centres in Nigeria, that state must fix such a city to enable it to sustain such dominance not letting it die.
In case the Abia State government is yet to see the handwriting on the wall, Ebonyi is building airport, malls, bigger modern markets of international standards and creating a business friendly environment.
Knowing who Ndigbo are, when one or two businessmen buy into the Abakiliki agenda, there is no way Aba can stand the pressure. All that is needed is the relocation of few brains and creative minds then, the rest will be history.
With the challenges and threats coming from neighbouring states, one expects that at least, all road infrastructures in Aba should be put to the proper shape and at international standards to at least reduce the sufferings of people.
Aside from the road infrastructure, there is only one thing that can save Aba from the impending collapse.
If Abia State Government and other important stakeholders can rally around, take bold steps to settle the matters stopping Geometric Power Plant from supplying the 24/7 electricity it is capable of supplying, Aba will survive this storm coming because constant electricity and good road infrastructure in Aba will keep her talents and sustain the city.
Meanwhile, Abia State Government on Sunday announced that has approved the commencement of phased redevelopment of Ariaria International Market, Aba, from Sunday, 5th September 2021.
Chief John Okiyi Kalu, Commissioner for Information, Abia State said the Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration has made several efforts to reconstruct the 47-year old market to tackle its age-long structural issues with many of the shops as well as provide the necessary modern infrastructure to deal with the perennial flooding challenges, particularly with A-Line.
He said that the government had wanted to do all the above while delivering other amenities like befitting car parks, conveniences, beautification of the surroundings, improved fire fighting capacity and such other facilities to our traders but has not been used of some issues.
According to him, a cabal in the market that had been profiting from its current state had sought to place unnecessary legal and other obstacles on the path of government’s efforts and had hampered previous attempts at commencing works in the market in April 2021.
He however said that in the interest of overwhelming public good, the government is compelled to go ahead with redevelopment efforts in one of the foremost markets in the country.
“In recent days, different social media platforms have been inundated with uncomplimentary videos of flooded A-Line that obviously also endangers traders and shoppers alike while bringing the government into public odium.
“No responsible government will, in the face of such images making the rounds on social media, sit back and watch without taking appropriate actions to deliver the much-needed solution as quickly as possible.
“Consequently, after a final consultative meeting with stakeholders of Ariaria International Market on Tuesday, 24th August 2021, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has approved the phased redevelopment of the market as follows:
“Traders currently doing business along A-Line, C-Line and Medical Line are to relocate from their shops on or before the close of business on Saturday, 4th September 2021 to enable the commencement of work the following day, Sunday, 5th September 2021. Those affected are to temporarily relocate to Ekumi Shopping plaza or other available shops within the market.
“The developers have committed to completing the required work in the phase which includes the establishment of proper drainage channels within the affected lines, construction of new shops and parks, before the first week of December 2021. Abia state government will through subsequent press releases publish the names of existing shop allottees that are guaranteed of their return to the reconstructed shops after completion of the first phase. It is important to state that no existing shop allottee will lose his/her shop after the work.
“Governor Okezie Ikpeazu is expected to personally hand back new allocation papers to all the existing allottees on Friday, 5th December 2021. Trading activities are expected to continue in other lines that are not affected by the first phase of the redevelopment project while the appointed developers, Messrs Blessed Henkel International Company, are expected to work with the market committee and security agents to ensure full security within the market during the period of redevelopment.”
Okiyi said that Government assures traders that it will work to ensure minimal disruptions to trading activities while executing this project which has now been made more urgent and crucial because of the recent flooding forecast from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NiMet.
“We will also not in any way tolerate any attempt by any individual or group to disrupt the planned work as we have consulted widely enough and given enough grace period, long before now, for alternative solutions which never yielded any meaningful result.
“Finally, we solicit the understanding and support of all Abians as we restate our commitment to delivering a modern market to our people.”
“If young fashion designers from Aba who decided to add tertiary education to their already gotten skills decide to take their businesses closer to places like Port Harcourt, Uyo, Calabar, Owerri, Abakiliki, Awka, Asaba, Benin and Yenagoa what will happen to the strength of visitors Aba receives? An investigation by News Echo reveals that of recent, majority of people that now visit Aba come for buying of raw materials from the markets and not the finished goods. Yes, some people still come for the finished goods especially on leatherwear and even clothing, but something should be done now than later. One would have expected that when a state owns a city that attracts more foreign visitors than all the tourist attraction centres in Nigeria, that state must fix such a city to enable it to sustain such dominance not letting it die.’’
“Many Nigerians are not aware that hotels in Aba from Monday to Friday host visitors from other African cities and countries like Mamfe, Buea and Kumba all in Cameroun, Bioko (Fernando Po), Malabo (Santa Isabel) and Bata in Equatorial Guinea, Brazzaville and Bangui in Gabon and Central Africa. Some come from even N’Djamena and Niamey in Chad and Niger. For a city without an airport, proper functioning Railway and any seaport, Aba’s status as a commercial city over many decades now is threatened by her lack of development and the speed of development from her neighbours.
Among all MSME clusters in Aba, none is currently saved from deplorable bad roads that scare customers. Yes, Abia State Government is trying to fix those areas, but the speed at which these works are done is beginning to send the wrong message of lack of seriousness to so many people.”
‘’Chief John Okiyi Kalu, Commissioner for Information, Abia State said the Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration has made several efforts to reconstruct the 47-year old market to tackle its age-long structural issues with many of the shops as well as provide the necessary modern infrastructure to deal with the perennial flooding challenges, particularly with A-Line.
He said that the government had wanted to do all the above while delivering other amenities like befitting car parks, conveniences, beautification of the surroundings, improved fire fighting capacity and such other facilities to our traders but has not been used of some issues.
According to him, a cabal in the market that had been profiting from its current state had sought to place unnecessary legal and other obstacles on the path of government’s efforts and had hampered previous attempts at commencing works in the market in April 2021. He however said that in the interest of overwhelming public good, the government is compelled to go ahead with redevelopment efforts in one of the foremost markets in the country.’’
