The Abia State Government has approved the designation of five historical and natural sites as heritage monuments as part of efforts to preserve the state’s history, promote tourism and create new economic opportunities.

The sites have been divided into two categories: State Monuments and State Natural Monuments.

The State Monuments include the National War Museum in Umuahia, the Ojukwu Bunker in Umuahia and Government College Umuahia. The State Natural Monuments are the Ibom Waterfall in Arochukwu and the Ulochukwu Cave in Alayi.

The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, disclosed this on Monday at the Government House in Umuahia while briefing journalists on the outcome of the week’s State Executive Council meeting, presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

Kanu said the designation would strengthen efforts to preserve Abia’s cultural and natural heritage while creating opportunities for the sites to gain wider international recognition.

“These sites have been elevated to heritage sites that enhance the state’s tourism potential.

“With this approval, they are primed to attract recognition as UNESCO Heritage Sites,” Kanu stated.

The commissioner also announced that Aba had been designated a Creative and Innovative City in recognition of its long-standing commercial, industrial and creative importance.

He disclosed that the retrofitting of the Ojukwu Bunker and National War Museum had reached about 80 per cent completion and was expected to be completed before the end of the year.

According to him, the projects will help preserve the historical significance of the sites, improve visitors’ experience and further enhance their tourism potential when completed.

Kanu further said the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy had received approval to develop the Ibom Waterfall Tourism Corridor in Arochukwu, with work already underway.

He added that the ministry had also begun erecting monuments at strategic locations across the state to preserve Abia’s heritage, honour its heroes and heroines, and promote the state’s cultural identity.

One of the planned monuments is dedicated to the heroines of the 1929 Aba Women’s Riot, in recognition of their courage, resilience, resistance and leadership.

The commissioner also used the briefing to address recent reports alleging excessive tax collection by the state government.

He clarified that the tax rates being referenced were not newly introduced and said the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Services could not increase tax rates without enabling legislation.

“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 stated.

Kanu explained that demand notices issued by the Board were provided for under the law and urged taxpayers to comply with relevant tax provisions. He added that legitimate concerns would be addressed by officials of the Board.

The commissioner also dismissed reports that akara sellers were being charged N50,000 in taxes.

“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 stated.

On the payment of outstanding gratuities owed to retired workers by previous administrations, Kanu said payments covering the period from 2001 to 2010 had been made.

He added that preparations were underway for the next batch of payments covering the period from 2011 to 2025.

Also present at the briefing were the Chairman of the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Services, Mr Uche Elekwachi; the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Mr Mathew Ekwuribe; and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue, Dr Emmanuel Okpechi.