Aba is the commercial city of Abia which is one of the states created in 1991 with Umuahia as the capital. Aba was formerly a British colonial government outpost and is also one of the most populated areas in the Eastern region.

Aba qualified Abia as the 5th most industrialized state in the country, and has the 4th highest index of human development in the country, with numerous economic activities and fast-growing populations as recorded by the UN early 2018.

With the rulerships of Orji Uzor Kalu who was the first Executive Governor of Abia from May 29, 1999, May 29, 2007, Theodore A. Orji Executive Governor May 29, 2007, May 29, 2015 and currently, Okezie Ikpeazu Executive Governor May 29, 2015, till date, the once ever great city has become less compared with her origin.

Aba lies along the west bank of the Aba River at the intersection of roads from Port Harcourt, Owerri, Umuahia, Ikot Ekpene, and Ikot Abasi (Opobo). Aba was according to history a traditional market town for the Igbo (Ibo) people of the tropical rainforest before the establishment of a British military post there in 1901.

With the construction of the railway circa 1915 from Port Harcourt (36 miles [58 km] southwest), the city became a major collecting point for agricultural produce (especially palm oil and palm kernels).

By the 1930s Aba was a settled urban community, and it is now a large industrial and commercial centre and home to the Aba Mega Mall. An 18.5-mile- (30-km-) long pipeline from the Imo River natural gas field was supposed to provide power for Aba’s industrial estate.

Textiles, pharmaceuticals, soap, plastics, footwear, and cosmetics are manufactured in the city, and there are also distilleries and a brewery. Aba has a school of arts and science, secondary schools, a teacher-training college, and several technical institutes.

However, the impact of the historic Aba Women’s Riots has made the city well known across the globe. The riot was a period of unrest in British Nigeria over November 1929.

The protests broke out when thousands of Igbo women from the Bende District, Umuahia and other places in eastern Nigeria travelled to the town of Oloko to protest against the Warrant Chiefs, whom they accused of restricting the role of women in the government. The Aba Women’s Riots of 1929, as was led by Ikonnia, Nwannedia, Nwugo etc

was touched off by the imposition of direct taxation and the introduction of new local courts and especially of warrant chiefs one of its kinds in the whole of West Africa.

Presently, the state of Aba is nothing to write home about. The bitter truth is, most of the historical figures that fought for the good of Aba must be regretting by now. Indeed, their labours have been in vain.

Aba is now best described with bad roads, the only city where the only means of empowering the youths is through AGBERO, littered streets, flooded streets and roads, none governmental built schools, none good health facilities, extortions of different kinds, death zones, hazardous gutters, I can’t continue to mention.

Yet, Aba is termed as one of the industrious citizens. However, her industrious nature has turned to become disadvantageous against the people living in it. Aba was indeed great back in history but has become less because of some selfish political thugs that called themselves leaders.

Written By Nwada Ugochinyere Onyechere Obinwannem News