Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has announced a $50m facility fund as part of his parting gift to the state ahead of his May 29 exit from office after serving for two terms.
Ikpeazu stated this yesterday during an interaction with newsmen adding that the fund was negotiated for the construction of 500 kilometres of roads in the state.
He said the fund has a repayment period of 20 years with 10 as moratorium, adding that his administration negotiated and perfected its interest rate at 0.006 per cent.
He said: “The handover of the reconstructed Faulks Road, Aba, and the remodelled three blocks in A-line of Ariaria International Market are among the projects I will remain grateful to God for.”
According to him, the Enyimba Economic City project, which is one of his signature conceptions, when completed would provide over 600, 000 jobs for the teeming youths over a 10-year period.
The governor noted that he adopted a multifaceted approach to the development of the state as the administration had laid a solid foundation for successive ones.
“The challenges of leadership are not in conceptualising ideas but in connecting and channelling them into an agenda to create a better life for the people of the state.”
The governor, who had advised against post-election litigation against the governor-elect, Alex Otti, said he was pleased with his stewardship, relationship style and disposition to issues.
Ikpeazu, whose bid for Abia South senatorial seat was twarted however insisted that he intends to leave the state better than he met it in 2015 when he took over the leadership.