UN Habitat lauds Abia’s effort to realise structural plan

By Godfrey Ofurum, in Aba

The United Nations Habitat has commended the dogged resilience and resolve of the government and people of Abia State to realize a structural plan, which it hopes would turn around the economic and aesthetic trajectory of Abia cities on completion.

Omoayena Odunbaku, team leader of UN Habitat, gave the commendation in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, at a three-day sensitization programme heralding the commencement of the structural plan project, which was started 31 years ago by the Frank Ajobena-led military administration in the state.

Francis Chidi Onwuchuruba, commissioner for Land, Survey and Urban Planning, lauded Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for realizing the elusive 31-year-old dream of a structural plan for the state.

He described the project as a gold mine that would improve the state economically, infrastructurally and aesthetically and urged the people of the state to embrace and support the project.

Onwuchuruba regretted the incidences of building collapse in the state and implored stakeholders and citizens to cooperate with the executive secretaries of the Town Planning Authorities to execute their mandate of sanitizing the real estate industry, warning that the government would descend on those who challenge and prevent them from discharging their official duties accordingly.

The commissioner implored professionals in real estate to be diligent and professional and equally advised landlords to acquire land that is not encumbered and build according to specifications to prevent building collapses.

Aaron Ikechi Bestman, permanent secretary of the ministry, expressed joy that the 31-year-old dream was being realized during his tenure.

“Abia State Government and Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Planning are committed to the realization of the project in record time. There would be continuous brainstorming by stakeholders to ensure that Abia cities and urban areas become the Dubai of Nigeria and Africa,” he stated.

He expressed happiness that every stratum of the Abia community has bought into the UN Habitat structured plan and embraced the project as its own, while imploring all stakeholders to provide correct data that would produce an accurate structural plan.

Uche Ibe, chairman, Abia State branch of Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), reiterated the continuous collaboration of professionals in the built-up environment to give full effect to the envisioned master plan for Abia.