Abiadecides: We shall create jobs through tourism, APP’s Mascot Kalu pledges

*Speaks on reviving Azumini blue river, others

 

By Charity Uwakwe

 

As the long awaited March 11 Governorship and House of Assembly elections crawl in, in a fraction of three days, the guber candidate of Action People’s Party, APP, Chief (Sir) Mascot Uzor Kalu has reassured that his administration will create the extant suffering of the masses through massive job creation.

 

The frontline candidate told newsmen, during an interface that his government would ensure the revitalisation of the famous Azumini blue river and other tourist sites in the state thus providing job opportunities through tourism.

 

Among the actionable plans of the APP’s candidate upon emergence in office as enlisted in his manifesto include:

 

* To create 10,000 jobs every year for the next 4 years. 40,000 jobs in 4 years. This will be achieved through the following.

1. Recovery, reconstruction and rehabilitation of major roads within the state, especially Aba. This will create jobs in two ways –

– direct and indirect jobs will be created by the massive construction going on and the good roads will attract both local and foreign investors to come into the state to invest. Whatever companies that will be engaged for the road constructions shall sign a MOU to use local content in the supply of the raw materials needed for the job.

 

*Abia palms and Ogwe Golden Chicken Poultry in Ukwa East and West respectively will be revamped through PPP. This will create massive jobs in the agricultural sector and ensure food security. Beyond the primary job these farms will create, they will also create thousands of secondary jobs through agro-proccessing, marketing and distribution. Efforts will be made to increase the state capacity in rice farming and production within the Abia North axis.

 

Furthermore, he promised that; “Jobs will also be created through tourism. To this end, Azumini blue river and other tourist sites in the state shall be revived and developed to an international standard. This will attract tourists from within and outside the state.

 

“The leather and garment industry in Aba will be expanded. This will done through partnership with foreign partners from China and Europe and it will work in two ways – Improving the capacity of the existing local practitioners by inviting the foreign partners to come and train our people here in Aba. The foreign partners will also be mandated to open their factories here.