Sam Hart is the Senior Special Assistant to the Abia State Governor on Public Communications. In this interview with journalists, he explains the current administration’s drive to restore Aba to its former glory and the planned Aba Urban Development Summit.
CHIJIOKE NELSON was there.

THE Aba Urban Development Summit is billed for January 14, 2016. Can you explain what it seeks to achieve?
The reason for organising the Aba Urban Development Summit is straightforward. The Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, reckoned that overtime, everyone has alluded to the enormous potentials inherent in a properly developed and structured Aba. Now, instead of the government continuing in its own wisdom to try to tap into the potentials of Aba, the time has come to invite all the experts in the rather wide gamut of holistic urban development to come to Aba and brainstorm on the best approach to the development. Governor Ikpeazu stated clearly that he does not want haphazard or whimsical development in Aba but a properly planned and structured development, hence the Summit.

This is not the first time there will be a diagnosis of the commercial city of Aba with nothing coming out of them. Will this Summit be the foundation to Aba’s development?
This is not another jamboree. The expected endpoint of this Summit is the proposed inauguration of an Aba Development Centre, which will serve as aone-stop centre to implement the recommendations of the Summit and coordinate all efforts towards the development of Aba. This office, working with our PPP office, will also source for all the data and numbers required by investors and policy developers to make informed investment and policy decisions as it concerns Aba and finally, all the recommendations at the Summit will be documented for reference and implementation purposes.

Aba is not the only city in Abia State that needs an economic boost. What informed the government’s decision to host this summit in Aba?
We have identified Aba as a catalyst. The potentials inherent in Aba, if properly harnessed, can galvanise development in the rest of Abia State. The people, the enterprise, the industries, the proximity to key cities in neighbouring states, the commercial dexterity and the sheer resilience of the people are qualities I dare say that you cannot find in any other city in Nigeria. Aba is a one-of-a-kind town where its qualities are completely patented to the city. Abia has other cities no doubt, from Umuahia to Ohafia to Isuikwuato to Omoba, but, the truth remains that none of these cities have the established potentialities Aba has and in tandem with the maxim of using what you have to get what you want, we are using Aba that we have to get even development all round Abia State which is what we want.

In particular, who are the expected guests at the Summit?
The expected guests at the Summit, most of who have already confirmed attendance, include heads of Development Partner Organisations like the USAID, DFID, UN HABITAT, Ford Foundation, The World Bank, AfDB, and the rest of them. Others are CEOs of financial Institutions, Ambassadors of foreign missions in Nigeria, heads of Federal Agencies like FHA, NESREA, NIHOTOURS, SMEDAN, BOI, Infrastructure Bank, FMBN, CBN, etc. We also have Civil Society Organisations and NGOs dedicated to effective governance like Paradigm Initiative in Nigeria PIN, Partnership Initiative for the Niger Delta PIND, etc. We also have professional associations like the Chamber of Commerce, the Nigerian Institute of Architects, the Institute of Surveyors, Town Planners, Urban Development Specialists, Lawyers, Doctors, Educationists, Environmentalists, etc. Finally, we have seasoned economists and successful entrepreneurs who have distinguished themselves in their different endeavours.

There are misgivings about the security in the entire South-East. Is Aba safe, and what measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of participants?
We are ready, Aba is ready. We look forward to receiving our delegates at Aba.
Aba is very safe at the moment. Arrangements have been concluded with security agencies to ensure the safety of delegates. These arrangements include comprehensive policing of the Summit venue and hotels where delegates will be accommodated, attachment of security escorts to all vehicles conveying our delegates to and from the airport as well as a general security cordon of Aba for the duration of the Summit. In other words, Abia State Government is guaranteeing the safety and security of delegates to this Summit.

There is the notion that Aba does not have good roads and the city is littered with refuse. Why are you bringing people to a city in that state?
Thank God you called it notion. It is not backed by facts on ground. Whoever still holds such a view of Aba has not visited Aba in recent times. Aba is not where it ought to be, hence this Summit, but Aba is definitely not where it usedto be. Since Governor Okezie Ikpeazu assumed duty on May 29, 2015, he has concentrated remarkable effort in getting Aba back on its feet. At the moment, more than 45 Road projects are going on simultaneously in Aba. All the drains that were hitherto blocked have been desilted for easy storm-water access and the environment is being given attention. The major drains on Aba-Owerri Road have been opened up and expanded and key arterial roads have been rehabilitated so generally, you have freer flow of traffic and increased commercial activities.

In light of the recent Appeal Court judgment on Abia elections, should participants have any skepticism?
The Summit is absolutely going ahead. The Court of Appeal Judgment is a mere blip which the Supreme Court will rectify. Our Lawyers are handling that but in the meantime, the show must go on. Governance is not affected in any way and the focus of the Governor remains unwavering.

What does the average businessman in Aba stand to gain from this Summit?
For three days, the attention of key decision makers in various fields of endeavour will be on Aba. Ambassadors of Countries, Heads of International Development Partner Agencies, and the Directors-General of key Federal Parastatals are coming to Aba. From the Bank of Industry to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency, Nigerian Institute of Hospitality and Tourism, Federal Housing Authority, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria, Managing Directors of Banks, renowned Economists and Development experts will all converge on Aba to discuss the way forward for the city. This is a veritable networking dream-come-true. For the savvy businessman and no matter your field, there must be somebody for you to meet at the Summit who will advance your business one way or another. Some of the people they have been traveling to Abuja to meet overtime without success are coming to meet them in Aba. Lastly and most importantly, the outcome of the Summit can only bode well for the city of Aba leading to increased business activities. I do believe that the people of Aba will benefit a lot from this Summit.

An event of this nature is expected to produce a technical report at the end. How willing is the State Government to work on any possible recommendations?
Thankfully, we have seasoned experts working with us to deliver this Summit. Ford Foundation is funding the Summit while our Technical Partners providing support for documenting the Summit outcome is Partnership Initiative for the Niger Delta (PIND). These are very serious organisations with international funding. If we were not serious, they would not be committing huge resources towards supporting the Summit. The most important asset we have is the commitment of Governor Ikpeazu to doing things the proper way in Abia State and this Summit is a pointer to his desire to be structured in his developmental approach. We have the full support of the Governor and his full commitment to implementing the outcome of the Summit so yes, we will definitely work on the recommendations of the Summit.

What are the admission requirement, logistic arrangements, objectives and expected outcome?
All those desirous of attending the Summit have to pre-register. For security and other considerations, the Summit is strictly by invitation. Access to the Summit Hall will only be for those wearing accreditation tags. All those desirous of participating who are yet to confirm their attendance should send an email to [email protected] to be registered. For logistic, we have concluded arrangements to cater for the convenience of those who wish to come into Aba from Lagos or Abuja and depart same day. The Summit starts at 10am on Thursday, January 14, 2016. There are flights leaving Abuja and Lagos landing at Owerri Airport before 8:30 – 9:00am. Owerri Airport is 45 Minutes to Aba. We will have vehicles stationed at Owerri Airport for Summit attendees from 8:00am on Thursday the 14th. Again, we have tailored the Summit to finish before 3:00pm so that those desirous of heading back same day can still catch evening flights out of Owerri Airport to Abuja and Lagos. Air Peace, Aero Contractors and Arik Air all operate scheduled flights in and out of Owerri. Port Harcourt airport is another option as it is also one hour from Aba but the fear is that traffic can build up at any time in Port-Harcourt and you could get trapped there so for those on a schedule, we advise they use the Owerri Airport. We have made arrangements for Airport Pick-ups and Drop-offs complete with Security Escorts. Those who need these services only need to indicate by sending a mail to [email protected] and they will be obliged.