The Abia State Government has approved the Ojukwu Bunker and the National War Museum in Umuahia as historical sites and monuments.
The government also designated the Ibom Waterfall in Arochukwu and the Ulochukwu Cave in Alayi, Bende LGA, as natural monuments.
This, according to the Abia State Information, Prince Okechi Kanu, is as part of ongoing efforts to preserve Abia’s rich history, promote tourism and unlock new economic opportunities.
Briefing journalists in Umuahia on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Chioma Otti, Kanu explained that the designation would strengthen the state government’s efforts to preserve its cultural and natural heritage while positioning the sites for wider international recognition.
He said: “These sites have been elevated to heritage sites that enhances the state’s tourism potential.
“With this approval, they are primed to attract recognition as UNESCO Heritage Sites”.
He also announced that Aba has been designated a Creative and Innovative City, in recognition of its longstanding commercial, industrial and creative significance.
The retrofitting of the Ojukwu Bunker and National War Museum, he disclosed, has reached about 80 per cent completion, adding that it is expected to be concluded before the end of 2026.
The Abia information boss stated that the projects, when completed, would enhance the preservation of the historical value of the sites, improve visitors’ experience and further strengthen their tourism potential.
He added that the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy has received approval to develop the Ibom Waterfall Tourism Corridor in Arochukwu and that work had already commenced on the project, including the grading of access roads to the waterfall.
This, he said, is expected to be completed before the end of the year, stressing that the project would help to unlock additional tourism and economic opportunities for the State.
He told journalists that the ministry has commenced the erection of monuments at strategic locations across the state to preserve Abia’s heritage, honour its heroes and heroines and promote the State’s cultural identity.
Among the monuments is one dedicated to the heroines of the 1929 Aba Women’s riot and that it would celebrate their courage, resilience, resistance and leadership.
On multiple taxation, Kanu exonerated the state government from the alleged excessive tax collection by the administration of Governor Alex Otti which recently went viral.
According to him, the rates being referenced are not new and that, the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Service could not have unilaterally increased taxes without the backing of enabling legislation.
“No new tax increases had been introduced by the present administration.
“For starters, these rates are not new. Most of the rates are 2020 tax rates that were introduced by the previous government.
“Let me reiterate that the Board of Internal Revenue cannot raise tax rates without the backing of enabling laws. And no such increases have been introduced by the Abia State Government.”
He also explained that demand notices issued by the BIRS were provided for under the law and urged taxpayers to comply with the provisions of the relevant tax laws.
Legitimate concerns, he assured, would be duly addressed by BIRS officials, even as he dismissed as false reports that akara sellers were being asked to pay N50,000 as tax.
“This is pure fallacy. Nothing can be further from the truth. Akara sellers don’t pay tax or levies. They pay daily tolls. And none can pay as high as N50,000″, he declared, describing the reports as misinformation.
On the ongoing payment of outstanding gratuity owed to retired workers by previous administrations, the commissioner revealed that payments covering the period from 2001 to 2010 had been made, while preparations were ongoing for the next batch covering 2011 to 2025.
He dismissed claims that the state government only commenced gratuity payments because of pressure from the opposition and explained that the payments were being made in batches because of the substantial financial resources required to settle the outstanding liabilities.
“The payments will be in batches. The funds involved are huge for one balloon payment. And as Governor Alex Otti has proven these past three years-plus, he is one governor that promises less and delivers more.
“The conclusion of payment of outstanding gratuities may happen earlier than we ever imagined. Let us therefore wait and see how the next batch of payments will unfold”, he added.
He described as misleading, claims that the gratuity payments would continue until 2031. Rather, he stated, that the State Government’s Gratuity Committee had recommended the inclusion of gratuity provisions in the state’s 2026–2031 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and subsequent annual budgets to ensure that gratuity obligations would henceforth be systematically provided for to avoid further accumulation of gratuity arrears.
“That does not translate to payments being terminated in 2031. As the internal processes and verification of beneficiaries of these payments continue, due payments would still be made in batches .
“That is the information we made available to the public before the commencement of the first batch of payments. And this administration will not deviate from that”, he said.
In his comment, the Chairman Abia State Board of internal Revenue Services, Mr. Uche Elekwachi accused rumour mongers of going around with misinformation about issues of tax, adding “some rumours are going around that akara sellers are told to be pay N50,000 tax. It is not true.
“There are no rates in there (in the tax laws) and no revenue window there that was started by this government.
“This whole thing has always been in existence The Abia Internally Generated Revenue Service Law was enacted in 2020 long before this government came onboard, so we need to make that clarification”.
