Prof. Nick Ezeh with Justice Ikpeama, laying the foundation of Oji Urban Industrial Park at the weekend.
From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
The chairman of Aulic Nig.Ltd, an indigenous construction firm, Prof.Nick Ezeh, has expressed his desire to develop an industrial park in Oji River that will be similar to the ‘Silicon Valley’ in the United States of America, stationing several industries, manufacturing companies, agro allied factories, Housing estate, among others.
Prof. Ezeh dropped this hints at the event to flag off the construction of RedArrows Industrial Complex at Oji Urban,on Friday, July 10,2026.
He said the project is in line with the vision of the Enugu state governor, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah,to develop the rural areas, and also that of Oji River local government chairman,Hon Greg.Anyaegbudike’s efforts to turn Oji River from a mere junction town into an industrial zone.
His words, “We want to change the status of Oji River from a junction town to an industrial area.Where we can provide jobs for our Youths. It has been my dream for over 15 years to develop Oji River into an industrial park.
“It is going to be our own Silicon Valley.We shall develop Oji River as an industrial Complex like is obtained in China,United States of America and many othwr civilised countries.It is a call for every Igbo man to think home.”.
Prof.Ezeh said Oji River was declared an Urban area as far back as 1976 by the Federal governnent but lamented it has remained under developed more than it’s contemporaries.
“Before the Nigeria Civil wars,Oji River supplied electricity to Port Harcourt and some other towns in the defunct Eastern region. After the wars, it’s development started to decline”, Prof.Ezeh said.
According to him, The RedArrows Industrial Complex’ will accommodate 5000 companies and multinationals of various kinds, consisting of Aluminum recycling plants, wood -saw Mills, Engineering and manufacturing companies, Export and Import clearing hubs, etc and will be able to generate it’s own source of power.
He said business shops, hotels and relaxation centers will also be cited in the layout.
Part of the RedArrows Industrial Complex’ will be carved out as Residential area, Prof.Nick Ezeh explained.
Earlier in his speech, the Director General,Igbo Elders Council Worldwide, Justice Alpha Ikpeama, who chaired the occasion, described the establishment of Oji River industrial park as a potential investment center for Igbos living in diaspora. He urged diaspora Igbos to think home and invest at home as a measure of building South East economy,thereby providing job opportunities for thousands of unemployed Nigerians living in the South East zone.
He described Oji Urban as the best place to site the RedArrows Industrial Complex’ stating the natural River and the location of the Oji Industrial Complex’ between two capitals of Enugu and Awka, the Anambra state, as an additional advantage.
He commended Prof. Nick Ezeh for his foresight and initiative in nurturing the project,assuring the project will expand the economy of Enugu state,in addition to gingering economy of scale of development in Oji River local government area and beyond.
One of the dignitaries, Evangelist Dr Walter Madu,in his speech expressed optimism that RedArrows Industrial Complex’ will enhance development of Oji River properly into an Urban area and a center of business activities.
