The Abia State Government has launched a 30-year development plan with a an assurance that it will be sent to the House of Assembly for legislation.
Speaking at an occasion held at Michael Ọkpara Auditorium, Umuahia, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu said the development plan would give room to consistency government projects as subsequent governments would sustain it when it has been legislated upon.
He said the plan, Abia State Long Term Development Plan (ABSLTDP), 2020 to 2050, is a roadmap for the development of the State.
The Governor, represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu, said virtually all segments of the State, were carried along in the plan.
He thanked the Abia State Planning Commission and the partners, Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND) for the feat.
Speaking, the representative of the Development partner, Foundation for Partnership Initiative in the Niger Delta (PIND) , Dr. Chuks Ofulue, appealed to the Abia State government to ensure the development plan is legislated upon.
He said the launch of the ABSLTDP was just the beginning as the legislation would make it sustainable over years.
Dr. Ofulue stated that PIND is interested in ensuring that development plans of governments in the Niger Delta areas are well-packaged and implemented accordingly.
He added that they have found out that some ideas and programs of governments are not carried out accordingly hence, their decision to intervene in partnering such governments.
He described the document as a good project that would outlive the present administration and appreciated Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for coming up with the document
Reviewing the document, a policy initiation and implementation expert, Dr. Ebebe Ukpong, disclosed that the document took three years to achieve.
He said the document contains seven features which can be actualised and requested that an executive bill be raised to back up the document as a legal entity.
