From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
Rays of hope that an industrial hub, the first of it’s kind in the South-East zone, with the potential of competing favorably in the global economy, will be established in Ugwuoba, Oji River Local Government Governor Peter Mbah in partnership with Ceelux group, an infrastructure development company, have concluded plans to invest over $40 billion in the development of the industrial park.
The multi billion dollar project, in addition to being an outstanding trade complex, will also comprise of housing estates, recreation centers, schools, hospitals among others, enjoying the privilege of it’s economy of scale.
From all indications, the dream of Oji River Industrial Park when put into use, will ginger investment flow from Anambra and other states in the country into Enugu state, thereby ending the description of Enugu as a civil servant state.
This stems on the fact that Ugwuoba, the host community is a border town between Awka, the capital of Anambra State and Oji River town in Enugu state.
There are no difficult terrain hills or seas separating the two towns.
Governor Mbah’s choice of Ugwuoba for the Industrial Park stems from his announced vision to stir new direction in revamping the state’s economy through “disruptive innovation”.
By extension, the envisaged industrial park will equally stir a new wave of industrial revolution in the South-East economy and the nation at large, based on strategic location of the axis and available natural resources within Oji River town and neighbouring communities which have either remained abandoned, neglected or untapped, by previous governments at both the state and federal level, in the past four decades or there about.
To mention but a few, the ‘Oji Wonderful water’ with over 99 percent natural purity, currently under utilized with over 98 percent waste as run off, is readily available to serve and support multi national and international companies which relocates to Ugwuoba industrial park.
It is worthy to note that pharmaceutical giants, brewing and other manufacturing firms always consider the proximity or distance of abundant source of water supply as one major factor in their choice of a new station.
Similarly, the broad and ever flowing Oji river meandering across most of the communities in the local government constitutes another factor of production that will attract investors into Oji River town and the state at large.
Checks reveals that there are already established network of roads that links Oji River town and other states in the South-East zone, apart from the Enugu to Awka to Onitsha express road and old road through 9th mile corner to Oji River and Udi.
The Ugwuoba/Ojinato link road to Inyi/Akpugoeze communities in Oji River which zooms into Anambra and Abia state communities.
The Oji River to Achi to Awgu road links Okigwe in Imo state and Ishiagu town and many other communities in Ebonyi state and will surely open up new clusters of inter-state business ventures across the South-East zone and beyond.
From all indication the natural vegetation and plain topography of Ugwuoba and other communities within the local government will not pose a difficult terrain for various kinds of establishment by investors.
Some development analysts hold the view that the citing of Ugwuoba, Oji River Industrial park by the present administration in Enugu state led by Gov. Mbah will play vital role in reinventing Oji River town to playing vital roles in the socio economic growth of Enugu state, South-East zone and the nation at large.
Vet. Dr Emmanuel Onyeka recalled that Oji River Thermal power station contributed immensely to the economy of the Nigeria and defunct Eastern Nigerian government with utilization of coal deposits from Enugu coal mines.
He stressed with the moves to removes solid minerals like coal from exclusive list of the federal government, if eventually Enugu coal mines are revitalized,the possibility of re establishing Oji Thermal station is realizable.
Prof. Emmanuel Ogu expressed optimism that the coming of Oji River Industrial park can influence the revitalization of the abandoned Oji River Federal Tannery.
The abandoned tannery at had contributed immensely to the economy of the defunct Eastern region.
The lot of abandoned Federal and state government establishments in Oji River communities includes the Oji River Forest Reserves at Mile 2, the Oji River wqtwr flow itself, the Akpugoeze Forest Reserve, the Cashew Farms/Industries at Ahani Achi, the Achi Farm School currently neglected and performing below standard, the Akpugoeze Teachers Training College, the revitalisation of drilling at gas deposit sites at Ugwuoba, the Enugu state College of Health technology, the Federal Cooperative College,Oji River, Police Detective College, among others.
A developmental analyst cum political scientist,Prof. Godsmark Eddy Ugwu, expressed the view that Mbah’s initiative and vision of developing a new township outside Enugu metropolis can be fully realized with more investments in the abundant but abandoned potentials in Oji River LGA, most of which were discovered by the British colonial administration. He appraised the coming of Ugwuoba Industrial park as a step in the right direction.
