By Ihechinyere Chigemeri-Uwom
The Abia Government has expressed its readiness to revive the Aba Mega Mall which was commissioned in May 2015 but then abandoned. The project has faced several setbacks in the past.
The recent resurgence of efforts to completely revitalize the mall is the outcome of a meeting between Gov. Alex Otti of Abia and the Greenfield Assets Limited Group Chairman and owners of the Mall, Dr Paul Obanua in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.
This development holds the potential to significantly transform the state’s economy through enhanced shoe and garment production, which would create jobs, boost local businesses, and attract investments to the state.
Speaking to newsmen after the meeting, Dr Obanua expressed excitement over his deliberations with the governor.
He said that the meeting indicates that a partnership could be in the offing after watching an investment he borrowed $10 million to build lie fallow for 10 years.
Obanua said that the governor showed great interest in the project and possesses the requisite political will to develop Abia State.
“We are very excited that the Governor, His Excellency, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti has granted us the audience we’ve not had in this State in the last 10 years.
“We are very excited and have our investors lined up to bring investments worth over N50 billion to Aba Mega Mall Space to be converted into a manufacturing ecosystem and export hub.
“You know what is important in every leadership is the political will to do the right thing, if the leader is willing, the people will be willing and would follow.
“So, the people might be willing to have development, everybody wants development, then, if your political leaders lack the political will to do the right thing, no matter how beautiful the project is, it’s never gonna work.
“What we found in His Excellency, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti is that he has that political will to bring in development to this State.
“If you want to get his attention, just say development and you will get his attention. Of course you will be ready to face questions because he would bombard you with questions. If you don’t know what you are talking about, then you have failed”, Obanua said.
He expressed satisfaction with the outcome of the deliberations with the governor and disclosed that the meeting involved presentation of his organisation’s new plans for the Mall to the government.
Obanua said that their new plans cover manufacturing services and standardisation for hardworking and talented Abia entrepreneurs, for improved productivity in garment and shoe production in the state.
“We are here to present our new initiative and plan for Aba Mega Mall to transform it into an Industrial Manufacturing Park and Export hub that can service US, Europe, Asia and African markets.
“What we are going to provide in the new proposed Aba Manufacturing Park and Export Hub is that we are going to provide Industrial Manufacturing as a Service to the entrepreneurs and artisans in the garments and shoes ecosystem.
“What that means is that we are going to have Automated Industrial Garment Cutting and Sewing Machines that would improve productivity for the garments and shoes manufacturers by more than 100 times”, Obanua said.
He said that the initiative would promote standardisation and export of locally made products in order to create wealth for manufacturers and entrepreneurs in Aba and its environs.
He also said that lack of automated industrial cutting and sewing machines for garments and shoes producers formed part of the problems that manufacturers/artisans face and consequently the project would be used to address it.
Obanua, who sought the opinion and consideration of the Governor in partnering with his organization in realising their new vision and plan for the current Aba Mega Mall Space, thanked Governor Alex Otti for his wonderful insights on how to make the abandoned Aba Mega Mall project come back alive.
Also, the governor expressed commitment to partner with genuine investors in order to bring significant economic growth in the state.
He assured the Management of Greenfield Assets Limited that his administration would look into its request to come up with ways to bring the long abandoned Aba Mega Mall project back to life.
Otti said that the government would ensure that the multi-million dollar assets of the mall would be put into industrial use for the benefit of the people of Abia State.
Otti directed further engagements between the Greenfield Assets Limited and the government’s teams, and reiterated that he is in governance to create wealth for the people.
