Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has said the federal government had granted the state government approval to establish a modular refinery in the state.
Otti stated this, yesterday, when he flagged-off the reconstruction of the 67-year old 11.1-kilometer Obehe-Umudobia-Owaza road in Ukwa West local government area of the state.
According to him, the refinery will be sited within the proposed Abia Innovation Incubation Park, Owaza and will be built by H.I.S Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited.
Still on the road project, he assured that the flag-off ceremony of the reconstruction of the Umuzike -Obokwe -Ngwaiyiekwe road also in the area, captured in the 2025 Budget, would be performed soon.
Promising to restore power in Asaland before the end of this month, he directed the commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Ikechukwu Monday to ensure the promise is executed.
Otti said he had taken notice of the people’s appeal for portable water, noting that as one of the services he had declared a state of emergency on the challenge will soon be a thing of the past.
Speaking further, he reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to end years of neglect of the oil bearing area by the previous ones and to ensure its equitable resource allocation.
His words “We officially declare that the era of neglect of Ukwa and all the communities within the land is over. Ukwa shall no longer be a forgotten place.”
“Your land will yield forth its best fruits and your barns shall never be empty again. You will enjoy the riches of the environment and the oil in your land shall bring you boundless prosperity.”
In a remark, a leader in the area and a former secretary to the state government, Ralph Egbu commended the governor for “his landmark achievements in less than two years in office”.
