Abia State Government has begun moves to boost tourism in the State with the commencement of the first phase of retrofitting of the famous Arochukwu Waterfalls at Ibom Village, Arochukwu LGA.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu who recently announced this in Umuahia, explained that move is part of the efforts to unlock the tourism potentials of the State and position it as one of the major tourism destinations in Nigeria.
The initiative, he remarked, is expected to boost Abia’s internally generated revenue of the State and create employment opportunities for many Nigerians.
Kanu, who spoke after the State’s Executive Council meeting, declared: “In a strategic move to boost the tourism potential of the State, Council has also approved the first phase of the retrofitting of the Arochukwu Waterfall in Ibom as part of efforts to enhance the tourism value of the waterfall as a tourist site.
“This first phase will cover the development of key visitor infrastructure and this includes entrance gates, souvenir shops, town stand, bush bar, and convenience facilities to improve accessibility and comfort, as well as overall tourist experience for visitors.”
According to him, other tourist sites in the State will also receive renovations and upgrades, citing the Ojukwu Bunker, Umuahia that would soon be reconstructed.
He informed that the move to bring tourism in the front burner of the state followed an agreement between the state government through the State Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Creative Arts, and Federal government to transform such institutions as the National War Museum and Ojukwu Bunker.
