ABIA GOVT. TO PURSUE THE REOPENING OFGOLDEN GUINEA WITH VIGOR IN 2013

By Nnaji Obed Asiegbu

Abia state governor Chief Theodore Orji says the year 2013 will experience a more committed attempt by his administration to jumpstart the industrial development of the state through the creation of agro- based value chain industries and agro- young entrepreneurs in the rural areas of the state.

The governor stated this in a goodwill message he delivered to Abia people to usher in the new year.

He said the agro entrepreneurs will be fully engaged in the emerging mechanized farms which have commenced in the state with the establishment of the liberation farms in the 3 senatorial zones.

According to the governor, the government also expects to actualize within the year, the technology parks in Aba and Umuahia to tap from the ingenuity of the state's local entrepreneurs to revamp the fame of Aba and Abia made goods, pointing out that the process will support the SMEs in the state and provide self employment for Abians.

The governor who said that his government will pursue the reopening of the Golden Guinea breweries Ltd With renewed vigor assured that the legacy projects he embarked upon for the state will in 2013 begin to create the desired bulwark for tackling poverty, unemployment and inequality in Abia state.

Chief TA Orji promised that his government will not relent in utilizing all available resources of the state to ensure more effective democratization and in delivering the services of government to Abians and all sectors of the state's economy.

The governor said that his administration will continue to guard and utilize judiciously the resources of the state and eliminate wastages and leakages in the system, adding that the biometric capture system adopted by the state will be completed in 2013 to further check and contain over bloated workforce and ghost workers and save resources for Abia state.

The Abia state chief executive disclosed that the government will usher in this January 2013, a new electronic product tax system where revenue accruing to the state will begin to be deposited directly into the government's accounts in order to increase the internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state and through that support address some inhibited areas of needs of the state.

He urged Abia citizens especially Aba business entrepreneurs and those elsewhere to grab this new opportunity to avoid double taxation and as responsible citizens contribute to the development of state.

Chief Orji commended Abians for their courage and indomitable and indomitable 'can –do spirit and assured them that in 2013, the government will try to surpass their expectations and improve on the lives of all citizens of the state.

He pledged that government will remain prudent in the management of the state's resources and make the personal commitments to reach on collective goals and through that make the difference.