In February 2018, Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu laid the foundation for the Ovom Auto Industrial and Mechanic Spare Parts Cluster, which is located in Ovom, Ogbor Hill area, in Obingwa LGA.

The cluster which houses over 2000 shops is expected to create at least 5000 direct jobs, which will in turn enhance the economy of the state.

According to the Permanent Secretary, Abia State Ministry of Industries, Engr Nkuma Emea Mba, the industrial cluster project was conceived after Abia State Government saw that mechanics and spare parts dealers were scattered on Jubilee Road, School Road, Azikiwe Road and its environs whereas the Aba Master Plan designed those places to be residential areas.

They also observed that mechanics were littering the gutters and walkways with debris and mechanical items, which caused the gutters to usually fill up and overflow on the roads. Therefore, government sought to relocate mechanics and spare parts dealers away from the city, to a modern facility befitting of their job.

The project which has lasted over three years is due to be completed in November, but it is already generating a lot of reactions from residents and its target occupants.

Below are five reasons why Abia State Government wants to relocate mechanics and auto spare parts dealers and how it could benefit them.

1. To recover residential area
Jubilee, Azikiwe, and School Roads were originally designed to house residents and not for businesses such as mechanic workshops and auto spare parts.

The government wants to relocate these businesses to the Ovom Industrial Cluster to recover residential areas that have been lost for decades.

2. To decongest the city
When the target occupants of the industrial cluster relocate from the heart of Aba, the city will be decongested and it would become easier to clear gutters and water channels for easy flow.

Also, their relocation will make for easy beautification of Aba metropolis.

3. To help protect businesses
The industrial cluster will enable mechanics and spare parts dealers own their shops. It will eliminate the risk of a dealer having to lose his location because his landlord chooses to erect a building on the land where he does his business.

After a mechanic or spare parts dealer processes the ownership of a shop, it becomes his asset which can be passed down to his children.

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So far the government support them financially to be able to relocate.