The African Development Bank (AFDB) says it is proposing an integrated
project to tackle rural roads, erosion menace and waste management in the
two Abia cities of Aba and Umuahia.
The Country Representative of the bank, Dr.Usmane Dore, stated this
during the bank’s preliminary visit to the state to see things.
He pledged the bank’s partnership to the state, pointing out that Abia
State Governor, Chief Theodore Orji, was one of the first governor’s to
reach out to the bank for assistance.
According to him, the AFDB has a tradition of partnering with states
adding that rural roads in the two cities will be strategically
rehabilitated and updated.
To that end, he said that the bank’s rapid assessment team has been sent
to the state for assessment and implored the state to cooperate with the
team to fast track the project.
Receiving the team led by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating
Minister for the Economy ,Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Governor Orji assured
that the state will cooperate with the bank as it is ready to abide by the
rules as well as contribute its quota to the project.
He stated that the perennial problem of rural roads , erosion and waste
management has continued to plague Aba despite the huge sums of money
being sunk into the city by the state government to address the problems.
The Governor said there was need for an external body like the AFDDB to
assist the state as the problems were beyond its scope and thanked the
federal government for the interest it has shown to Abia State.
Earlier, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating minister of the Economy,
Dr. Okonjo-Iweala said the the objective of the visit is that the ADB has
agreed to work with Abia State and bring some more benefits, maintaining
that it is designed to cement the Governor’s legacies in the state
According to her, President Goodluck Jonathan is desirous to work with
states to make things better.