Alex Otti Signs Aba Development Authority Bill Into Law

 

The Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA) Bill has been signed into law after it was recently passed by the House of Assembly.

 

Abia State Governor Alex Otti signed the bill into law yesterday.

 

Speaking after assenting to the bill, Dr.  Otti said the establishment of the Greater Aba Development Authority is to give Aba a special focus as a commercial hub.

 

He added: “Everyone who had followed the process of the campaigns and elections would have remembered that we have said that we needed a special focus on Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the state.”

 

The governor said Aba combined what many cities had individually, noting that Aba was not just a commercial zone, but also an industrial hub where “we have all sorts of light manufacturing, heavy manufacturing, micro small and medium scale businesses, trading. Virtually every street in Aba is a market. Although we are working and organising them, it is a strength we recognise.”

 

Otti said: “When we invest heavily in infrastructural renewal in Aba, it is because we recognise the potential Aba has and we believe if we improve on ease of doing business, we attract a lot of businesses.” 

He congratulated the Speaker of the House of Assembly, other lawmakers and members of the Executive Council on the passage of the bill, saying with the law, Aba’s rejuvenation had got a legal backing to bring about the needed development in the city.

 

Presenting the bill earlier for the governor’s assent, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ikechukwu Uwanna, said it was passed into law by the Assembly on December 8, 2023.

 

Otti’s, Ikpeazu’s aides clash over alleged mismanagement of N500mOttiOtti’s, Ikpeazu’s aides clash over alleged mismanagement of N500m

He said the Greater Development Aba Authority bill is the first bill Otti is signing into law and congratulated the governor on achieving the feat 

 

The Director General of the Greater Development Aba Authority, Mr. Uche Ukeje, described the law as a special vehicle that would drive the development of Aba and realise the governor’s vision about the city. 

 

Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Kenneth Kalu; Special Adviser on Legislative Matters, Luke Onyeani; Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma, among other top government officials, were present at the event.