The Abia government says it has strengthened its 25-year development plan by subjecting it to legislative backing to ensure continuity over successive administrations.
The commissioner for budget and planning, Kingsley Anosike, said this on Monday while briefing journalists at the Government House, Umuahia, on the outcome of the state executive council meeting.
Mr Anosike described the legislative protection as a new feature added to the development plan, adding that it was lacking in the old development plan prepared by the past administration.
“So, why this development plan is different is that it is going to be backed by legislation.
“So, the legislators are going to put a seal on it, warranting that any future review would have to pass through the same process of legislation. That is what is different.
“So, this is not just a plan; it is a plan that has been formatted for the future,” Mr Anosike said.
According to him, the previous administration developed a 30-year development plan in 2020, which was developed based on the reality of the COVID year.
He said that economic developments between 2020 and 2025 had made realignment necessary.
He also said that the review of the document became necessary to correct gaps in the original 2020 plan, which he described as heavily influenced by the global pandemic.
“Recall that in 2020, the then administration had a 30-year plan that extended to 2050.
“So, when this administration came on board, it constituted a team to review the plan.
“The reason for the review is simple, and it is that the plan in 2020 was a COVID-driven plan.
“If you recall, there was this disease that shook the world in 2019 and in 2020, the entire world was still recovering from that situation.
“So, plans written from that period onwards were done, considering the situation then and everybody thought the world was coming to an end.
“Now, it is not a jettison of the plan, it is a review because between 2020 and 2025, there has been a five-year stretch of economic activities, economic turbulence and everything happening in the world.
“Any serious administration would want to look at the indices, the framework of whatever the development plan is and realign it to current reality and that is what this administration has done,” he said.
The commissioner further said that the administration worked with major development institutions to ensure the revised document would meet current and future challenges.
He said that the review was done by the government, in collaboration with reputable international organisations, specialising in building development plans for nationals and subnationals.
“This plan was co-created by Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) and by the way, PIND was the group that worked with the last administration on this plan.
“So, to review the plan, this administration also worked with PIND, but included other world organisations, like UNDP, PACE, and the entire process was coordinated by Price Water Coopers.
“So, this is a more robust plan that is future-proof, in the sense that it is natural for sometimes when new administrations come, they want to undo what the previous administration has done and start afresh.
“That is the undoing of most subnationals,” Mr Anosike said.
He described the revised plan as more comprehensive, adding that the goal was to secure a document that survives changes in government.
Also, the commissioner for information, Okey Kanu, said that the development plan would be unveiled on December 16, describing the document as “one of the most significant legacy projects of this administration”.
“Gov. Alex Otti will officially unveil the development plan on Dec. 16,” Mr Kanu said, describing the public presentation as a milestone achievement for the administration.
He said that the plan provides a long-term roadmap for economic growth, infrastructure development, and social progress.
He said: “The plan will chart a deliberate and transformative roadmap for Abia.
“It will anchor our collective vision for economic resilience, infrastructure expansion, social advancement, and generational security into the middle of this century.
“The document focuses on six strategic pillars, which include people and resources, growth and stability, sustainable economy, social infrastructure and inclusion, governance and reform, and cross-sector linkages.”
He said that full implementation of the plan would stimulate an inclusive economy by unlocking local potential and attracting global investment across key sectors.
“The plan seeks to create a future modern climate-resilient infrastructure, including clean energy, digital connectivity, and sustainable urban planning.
“During implementation, it will also be governed by strong institutions that promote transparency, citizen participation, ensuring peace, security, and inclusive development,” Mr Kanu said.
He said, “on the whole, the future-ready development plan, if religiously implemented, will take Abia to the third pole of economic well-being and development among the comity of states in Nigeria”.
(NAN)
