Residents of Owaza community in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State have appealed to Governor Alex Otti to return their lands acquired for the proposed Abia Industrial and Innovation Park (AIIP), citing the absence of visible development more than three years after the project’s foundation-laying ceremony.
The residents, who claimed that over 1,000 hectares of land were acquired for the project, expressed frustration that the land remained unused while the community continued to face poor roads, inadequate electricity and limited access to potable water.
They argued that the government should either commence the industrial park project and provide the necessary infrastructure or return the land to its original owners for farming and other economic activities.
“We don’t need an industrial park here. We need roads, electricity and a good source of water. We don’t have the basic necessities of life, yet our lands have been taken for a project that has not commenced,” a resident lamented.
The residents also raised concerns about the alleged presence of cattle herders on the acquired land, claiming that it had heightened security fears and disrupted farming and other commercial activities.
One of the residents, Chidiebere Nweze, said the community had yet to witness meaningful development on the land since the state government announced the project.
He alleged that the area had been occupied by cattle herders, making movement difficult for residents, particularly in the evenings, and limiting farmers’ access to their farmlands.
“Once it is 4 p.m., people become afraid to pass through this area to their homes and farms. The governor should come and see what is happening here. Nothing is going on, and we don’t need an industrial park here. Let us have electricity and good roads first,” Nweze said.
He further lamented that the situation had contributed to the community’s isolation, adding that declining commercial activities had affected residents’ livelihoods.
“We don’t even know if we are still part of Abia State. This situation has cut us off from other communities,” he said.
Another resident, David Godwin, recalled that the community initially welcomed the proposed industrial park, anticipating employment opportunities, improved infrastructure and increased economic activities.
According to him, some landowners voluntarily released their land, while others sold theirs in the expectation that the project would bring development and improve their living conditions.
Godwin, however, expressed disappointment that the anticipated benefits had yet to materialise despite the extensive land acquisition.
“When the announcement was made that an industrial park would be constructed here, we were all happy. We believed it would bring development and opportunities to our people. Some people gave their lands freely, while others sold theirs because they believed better things were coming,” he said.
“But today, the reverse is the case. How can the government take such a massive land and, up till now, nothing has been done? They should give us back our land. We don’t need an industrial park; we need roads and electricity,” he added.
He also alleged that the presence of herders had disrupted farming activities, leaving residents concerned about their safety and economic future.
The residents called on the state government to address their grievances, insisting that the land acquisition should translate into tangible development for the host community.
The Abia Industrial and Innovation Park is an initiative of the Otti administration located in Owaza, Ukwa West LGA. The project is designed to attract investments in sectors such as modular refining, petrochemicals, fertiliser production and steel manufacturing, with the government projecting that it would generate employment and stimulate economic growth.
The foundation-laying ceremony for the project was held on September 30, 2023. However, the residents maintain that they have yet to see visible construction activities on the site.
The government had announced a compensation process for affected landowners, while reports have cited varying estimates of the land acquired, ranging from more than 1,000 hectares to approximately 1,995 hectares.
The residents are now urging Governor Otti to clarify the project’s status and either begin implementation with the promised infrastructure or return the land to its original owners.
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