Industrialist laments dearth of infrastructure
GOVERNOR Willie Obiano of Anambra State has drawn the ire of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state over some new policy directives the party feels “have no legal or legislative backing.”

The state APC Publicity Secretary, Okelo Madukaife, listed the policies to include the recent executive order banning commercial motorcycles (okada) and tricycles from certain roads, as well as banning heavy-duty vehicles until 11p.m. Madukaife noted that the directives might sound noble and ideal but are illegal.

However, an Nnewi-based industrialist and Chief Executive Officer of Kotec Group of Companies, Chika Emenike, has commended Obiano for soft-pedaling the ban on okada operations. He appealed for a review of the policy “because of its adverse effect on the state’s economy and the hardship that comes with it.”

He noted that it would also be difficult to execute such policy in Nnewi where, “apart from okada riders, every home has about five private motorcycles used for transportation in the industrial city.”

More so, Emenike said the ban could not be welcomed in Awka and Onitsha, where there are not enough taxis to close the gap created by their absence. Drawing the attention of the Federal Government to the needs of industrialists in the zone, Emenike urged government to build more roads and expand the existing ones if the reason for the ban was to decongest the roads.

According to him, “the ban is not necessary. Motorcycles are used in China and all other Asian countries. People will suffer if the ban holds, and I doubt its workability” because Anambra, particularly Nnewi, is the home of motorcycle spare parts and complete motorcycles, from where many West African countries get their supplies.

Noting that there is no industrial cluster to absorb those who would be displaced by the ban, he warned that it would create labour crisis and increase crime rate.

Emenike further urged the President Muhammed Buhari-led administration to role out industrial policies that would encourage local investors across the country, especially in the region, which has become less investment-friendly due to lack of basic infrastructure.

He lamented that manufacturers in the zone solely depend on private and expensive power generation for their production, which has kept costs high and slowed expansion. He canvassed the establishment of an industrial cluster in the region as there are in other zones, with adequate infrastructure to encourage local investors and create employment.