Abia State Government has taken a step towards its dream of reviving Aba as the commercial hub of the South East and the South South geo-political zones with the inauguration of the first phase of the Aba Mega Mall.

The first phase is made up of 1,000 stalls while the next phase will comprise an abattoir, cinema, a dry port as well as a motel.

When fully operation, the Aba Mega Mall would a-stop business centre where importers would also clear their goods. Banking services and tight security would also be provided in the area. It is a Public/Private Partnership project.

Governor Theodore Orji, while inaugurating the first phase of the Aba Mega Mall built by Greenfield Assets Ltd. and laying the foundation of the next phase at Okpu Umuobu in Osisioma local government area, urged the incoming government to be guided by past experiences so as not to make mistakes that will retard the growth of the state.

Orji said that his administration has put in place sustainable infrastructure in Abia that will stand the test of time and enjoined the succeeding administration to build on what is on ground.

He showered praises on Osisioma people for donating their land to government for the building of the shopping mall and urged other communities to release their land for development purposes when the government requires such land.

Governor Orji also thanked Aba people for their support and urged them to change their attitude in order to make the city great, pointing out that Aba is a melting pot of resources.

Group Managing Director of Greenfield Assets, Paul Obanua, expressed gratitude to the Abia State Government for giving his firm the strong support it needed to realise the project.

Obanua explained that his company was interested in harnessing the industrial and commercial potentials of Aba.

Earlier, chairman of the occasion, Elder Emma Adaelu, commended Greenfield for siting the mall in Aba, extending same to Governor Orji for giving his full support to the project and urged Aba people to buy stalls in the mall.

•Photo shows Gov. Orji cutting the tape to inaugurate the mall. He is flanked (from right) by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Chief Allen Nwachukwu and Obanua.