Aba , Abia State in Nigeria is the commercial and industrial hub of the southeast region of the country. She boasts of many large markets with wide range of goods and services offered with their customers from the whole of west Africa. Such markets are open for trade with standards for the improvement and sustainability of the people. Ariaria international market remains one of the largest market situated in Aba which have stood for years and with huge trading volume daily.
Aba is predominantly igbo land with large numbers of the inhabitants being igbo people that comes from many hinterland and villages to occupy this important trading town established as one of prominent colonial settlement by high British officials. Aba serves as their homes and headquarters for the control of the Southern part of the region and trade. Being highly accessible with railways and Trunk "A" roads, Aba acts as a connecting route and town for goods and services between the northern and Southern part of the country. With this favor position, imperial powers improve her routes and roads to get control of the product and services.
Aba remains one of the most populous city in our country. According to their latest census conducted, over 3 million people lives in the city. Although igbo are largest numbers of people living here but many people from our tribes and languages can rightly call Aba, their homes too. The population have high numbers of youths who are actively engaging in various kind of commercial and industrial activities. Every morning, they flocked on the streets and markets in Aba for business purposes. Fashion and textile industry holds the highest level in Aba while majority of the women are pretty traders of agricultural products and services.
Apart from commercial and industrial activities, Aba is the home of the most profitable and famous sporting club in Nigeria. Enyimba international is the best football club in Nigeria. She have won many awards and trophies both locally and internationally than all other football clubs in Nigeria. She won Africa Championship back to back to make her mark in the whole continent. The football club under the management of the former African player of year and Nigerian international who is known worldwide in the football world. Kanu Nwankwo is a household name in Football all over the world. Also, many famous players are from this football facility and show their greatness over the world.
Despite the potential of the town, there are many factors that have challenged its growth over the years. It affects the economic growth and development as well its infrastructures. They include:
Although not only peculiar in Aba but the whole nation are large. Corruption is the evil that affected the growth of the town. It stemmed from the government authorities and moved into every officials in the town. They are very corrupt to the extent that they keep siphoning or mismanagement of the fund generated from the town into their personal pockets and uses. Every business are mandated to pay before opening for transactions in the area but the money gotten are used for their private uses. Millions of Naria are generated daily. Transportation industry alone generated huge amounts of money daily but the corrupt officials use them for buying their mansions and taking care of their families.
Every month, federal government gives out huge money for the development of the area. But the officials eat up those funds and move them for their personal business. Former governor and major of the Town even borrowed over 56 billion naira for road construction, maintenance and renovation but siphoned it for personal purposes. He can boast of only one bridge after eight years of power.
Corrupt leaders are elected by corrupt election officials with their invalid rules. Even our corrupt judges with their court gives "bought" judgment that favor corrupt people over the duly elected leaders that people loved and cherished. Due to their huge money spent, those corrupt leaders will get back their money from the necessary funds for the development of the town.
In the number of thugs and criminals in Aba keep increasing daily. Their activities are dangerous and affect the lives of the people because of their nefarious activities. For example, at the main park and Ngwa road side, nobody dares to walk freely within the late hours without their useful properties like phones and money being taken from them by these men of underworld. This incidence affect the business and security of the people around the town.
Insecurity are one of the reasons that affect economic growth and development of my town. Due to their relationship with corrupt politicians who wield their power from the strength of those thugs and criminals, these thugs reign supreme on the streets of the town and affect the safety of the people
Corrupt political leaders neglect the people and deny them of basic infrastructure needs due to political party affiliation. Because they did not get enough votes from some side, they failed to develop those area as a means of punishment for their sin. For example, ohanku region have never being developed because they voted for honest people that will improve their lives.. Bad roads are our nightmare because of voting the right people but they are denied of their mandate because of corrupt election officials.
Government needs money for development of the town and other managerial activities. Every citizen knows that fact and ready to give when their lives are improved with their money paid. But in the case of my town, those taxes are high and duplicated making it difficult for the people. For example, there's property rate and infrastructure levy for one person to paid to the same government for the same locality. Despite these huge amounts of money paid, they are never fully utilized but siphoned for personal purposes.
Due to high taxation, many companies have been bankrupted or moved over to other countries which have affected the economic growth and development of my town. Over the years, many bottling companies and facilities have their industries in Aba because of the good water quality and cheap labour. For example PZ, Pepsi and Unilever etc have their headquarters in Aba but have moved to other cities and countries due to high taxes from our municipal authorities and governments.
Aba will be great again because of her huge potential despite the challenges and factors that affecting her. With good administrative skills and power, the government can improve the economic growth and development of the Town. With the good potential, the corruption and negligence will fade away and good tidings will flow once more like before
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