By Patrick Imoh
A group of foreign industrialists will be investing the sum of $40 billion in the establishment of an investment hub in Anambra state.
This is with a view to further boost the success of the state’s security architecture, which Governor Willie Obiano has established with a bid to cushion the expected economic effects of COVID-19 and arrest other possible challenges that may arise from the effects of the pandemic in the state.
Mr. Chika Ibeneme, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Obiano on Media and Image Management said the multifaceted investment which would be situated at Mgbakwu, Ebenebe, across Ezu River axis, in Awka North Local Government Area is an Industrial Park that would accommodate housing estates, police station, school, and hospital among other economic structures.
He added that the $40 billion investment with the capacity of creating over 5,000 direct and indirect jobs will be executed in phases with a duration of seven years would also boost the state’s Internally Generated Revenue and the GDP, all geared towards making Anambra an industrial hub of the nation.
The hub, he said, will certainly make such ICT and other industrial hub in Rwanda and South Africa look like a joke when completed.
Ibeneme said “amidst lockdown, Governor Obiano is still striving to further strengthen the economy of the state as the investors are coming due to the security architecture Governor Obiano has attracted.
“Indeed, the lockdown has brought out the best from Governor Obiano. He is a man who knows the indices of managing an economy. He had prepared for any economic challenges like this before he came into power. “Given the pandemic induced lockdown, there are little or no economic activities decreasing internally generated revenue and taxes, but government expenditure like salary and overhead are neither locked down nor decreased hence government has continued to make expenses without a commensurate income generation.
“With the state government’s monthly expenditures such as salaries and the pandemic induced palliatives are running in this parlous revenue situation, it is only on the strength of the strong economic structures the governor has put in place that we are riding this storm.
“I therefore urge everyone to support the government of Governor Obiano and adhere to the COVID-19 lockdown safety measures.”
Picture: Anambra state governor, Wilie Obiano