First Abia modular refinery to come on stream next year

.Measles outbreak reported in two councils

First modular refinery to be undertaken by Abia State government, which is located within Abia Industrial Innovation Park (AIIP), in Owaza, Ukwa West Council, is expected to come on stream in 2025.

This Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, announced the development to journalists, yesterday, after the weekly state executive council meeting.

He described the refinery as an important project to the Governor Alex Otti-led government, stressing that every effort is made to ensure its actualisation within the time frame.

He said: “The modular refinery project of Abia Industrial Innovation Park will come on stream in 2025. It will be the first major industrial project in that industrial park.”

He also said that when it comes on stream, it would provide direct and indirect employment, as well as job opportunities to thousands of youths, making available refined petroleum products in the state and increase the state’s revenue base.

He added that the state government is making efforts to reap from the huge opportunities provided by the petroleum and mineral resources endowment in the state.  The Commissioner added: “In this regard, a lot of investors are jostling to come and invest in Abia State.”

Also, the Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Prof. Joel Ogbonna, who said that about 2,000 hectares of land have been acquired in Owaza, alleging that, hitherto, many did not know that oil and gas abound in the state. He stressed that it became a curse rather than a blessing to Abia, because of bad governance of successive administrations.

Ogbonna said: “We now want to convert those wastes to wealth, and the modular refinery presents a huge opportunity for job and wealth creation.  Of course, we are taking advantage of the natural endowment, which we have not harnessed before now.”

Last year, Otti formally commissioned the Innovation Park, describing it as an industrial hub of the state.

On the rumoured suspected Measles outbreak in councils of the state, namely, Arochukwu and Umunneochi, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo said: “We are currently mopping up to identify the three suspected affected children, and also ascertain when this condition started.  We are trying to identify them and avert spread. As I speak, it is under control.”