Communique Arising From ABIA North Easter Retreat That Held On 21st April, Easter Monday And Organized By ABIA North Consultative Assembly, ANCA

COMMUNIQUE ARISING FROM ABIA NORTH EASTER RETREAT THAT HELD ON 21ST APRIL, EASTER MONDAY AND ORGANIZED BY ABIA NORTH CONSULTATIVE ASSEMBLY, ANCA.

The retreat took notice of the fact that insecurity, power supply, dearth of industrialization, low agricultural yield, low level of infrastructure etcetera constitute a shared limitation among communities in Abia North. Speakers during the retreat were unanimous that in finding solutions to these problems, must adopt a common template that are contemplated within the following communique :

1. Speakers upon speakers during the retreat praised the efforts of the state government in improving road infrastructure across the Abia North zone but urged governor Alex Otti to do more in linking more communities within the zone with his caterpillar revolution.
2. The state government and the five local governments of Abia North are advised to step up emergency laws on security of the five northern border communities of Arochukwu, Bende, Isiukwuato, Ohafia and Umunneochi LGAs.
3. Those emergency laws should put the local vigilantes of the area on high alert and equipped to work in synergy with the official law enforcement units.
4. The five Abia North communities through their traditional councils should restrict the consumption of ‘nama’ as was done in Ohafia and Afikpo etcetera to cut down on the market supply of the cattle to eliminate the influx of the herdsmen.
5. The state government should through PPP reestablish activities in about 50 farm and palm estates within Abia North to provide jobs for the youths and also help to stop the use of those estates as hideout for bandits and kidnappers.
6. The five LGAs of Abia North should step up activities in animal husbandry and nursery in ‘efi igbo’, chicken, piggery, local goats, bush meats, fish and snail etcetera as alternative sources of protein meat.
7. Forest Rangers should be deployed at the five LGAs of interest to monitor our forests and give routine security reports to both the state and local governments.

1. The state government is advised to deploy remote camara technology and drones to monitor our hinterland and neighborhoods to ramp up security in the zone and indeed across the state.
2. The state government is advised to be intentional in doubling down on the federal government to link up the rail corridor from Aba to Enugu and the northern states whether through the standard guage or single narrow guage rail tracks to facilitate the industrialization of Abia North as a developing commercial hub.
   10 . The state government should facilitate through the Southeast Development Commission the development of the a gas masterplan to provide industrial scale gas supply to Abia North for rapid industrialization of the area.
3. The state government should intensify efforts in using riverine resources in Abia North to develop hydropower generation potential in the zone.
4. The state and local governments should assist the low-income farming population in the zone with better farm implements, fertilizers, and irrigation facilities to help improve farm yields towards food sufficiency in the zone.
5. ANCA is to step up advocacy with stakeholders in the zone to promote one man, one vote culture, transparency in elections and reduction in election brigandage.
6. ANCA is to interact with stakeholders to imbibe the culture of zoning of important offices for equity and political balancing and in the spirit of political inclusiveness.

For ANCA
Engr. Dr. Odo Ijere
Reverend Dr Okechukwu Obioha
Arc. Chief Eme Uche Onu.