Underscoring the importance of Greater Aba Development Authority [GADA]

Underscoring the importance of Greater Aba Development Authority [GADA]

 

By Chibuzo Amaechi

On December 22nd, 2023, His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti (OFR) assented to the bill for the establishment of the Greater Aba Development Authority, turning it into law.

One of the Authority’s main goals is to  address the environmental challenges of the Aba metropolis and accelerate the city’s transformation into a modern global city.

The Greater Aba Development Authority (GADA), which oversees Aba North and South, Obingwa, Osisioma, and Ugwunagbo Town Planning Authorities, is responsible for implementing projects related to roads and transportation networks, health, education, industrialization, urban development, market development, and more.

Under the leadership of Arch. Uche Ukeje as the Director General, GADA aims to make Aba Metropolis a resilient, open, and sustainable entrepreneurial city where people can live, work, and play.

Since its establishment, GADA has overseen significant growth and development in Aba, the commercial hub of the state.

This includes remodelling market buildings, ongoing construction of modern bus stops and bus corridors, drainage improvements to eliminate flooding, road construction, the establishment of the building control unit to ensure that standard buildings are erected in Aba and more.

To realize the Governor’s vision and that of the Authority for Aba, proper city planning is essential.

Recognizing this, the State, under the leadership of Dr. Alex Otti, has initiated the development of a Master Plan for Aba for the first time since the creation of the State.

Furthermore, to ensure that all residents are involved in the city’s redevelopment process, the Governor has approved a 90-day moratorium, which began on September 10th and will end on December 9th, 2024, for all landowners, builders, and developers in Aba South, Aba North, Osisioma, Obingwa, and Ugwunagbo under the jurisdiction of GADA.

This moratorium program provides residents of Aba Metropolis with a grace period to obtain their building permits, ensuring that their buildings/properties are documented in the Government database, thereby enabling the government to effectively plan the city.

During this period, there will be no penalty for defaulters and a reasonable discount for new buildings.

As the Government is tirelessly working to make the city conducive for its residents with all the development in place, it is expected of the citizens to reciprocate by yielding to government instructions/directives to move the city and the entire state forward.

It is therefore pertinent for all to join hands with the Greater Aba Development Authority to develop Aba into a modern city by visiting any of the Town Planning Authorities under GADA to document your property.