Two new Commissioners have been sworn in to the Abia state Executive Council.
They are Mr Godswill Nwonoruo who is to serve as the Honourable Commissioner for Transport and Mr Tony Nwamuo, the Honourable Commissioner for Environment while Barr. Eze Chikamnayo is the new Transition Committee Chairman for Umuneochi Local Government Area.
Speaking during the swearing-in ceremony held at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House Umuahia,Governor Okezie Ikpeazu while congratulating them on the milestone attained noted that their assignment is a call to serve and charged them to acquit and conduct themselves in a manner that will uplift the government and people of the state.
Describing the transport sector as a powerful enabler that drives trade and commerce, the Governor said “it is disheartening to acknowledge that the state is yet to come up with a transportation policy” and urged the commissioner for Transport to liase with the TIMASS and other security agencies in the state to ease traffic.
The Governor directed the Transport commissioner to ensure closure of all illegal motor parks in Aba and Umuahia,deploy science and technology and other modern means to manage and ease traffic as well as deal squarely with the issue of motor parks operators and bring sanity to the sector.
Ikpeazu warned the commissioner against taking monetary gratification from motor parks operators which he said will undermine his ability to take good judgement.
In his words; “The Transport sector is the pivot in which the wheel of trade and commerce rotates. We expect something new from the commissioner of transport. We do not want to see business as usual.
“Therefore all illegal motor parks must be closed in Aba and Umuahia. The aim is to bring sanity to the sector and move away clearly from the chaos that has become the norm of our city.
“This government has battled since 2015 to enhance the infrastructural stock interms of roads. It has not been easy to win the war in the area of urban renewal because of the indiscipline in the transport sector.
“We also expect that in trying to bring sanity to this sector, that the honourable commissioner for Transport should be able to designate some roads as means to sanitize the state especially operations of Keke riders.
“Let me reiterate that the job of the transport Commissioner is to ensure that every citizen is able to move from one point to the other without let.
The governor charged the commissioner for Environment to consolidate on the already existing template in the Ministry towards the full realization of all NEWMAP Project including Ngwa,Obohia,Ohanku,and all adjoining roads along Ndiegoro.
He noted that the state Government has paid its counterpart funding as well as fulfilled all conditions of World Bank for the actualization of the project and urged the Ministry to address the issue of perennial flooding, embark on massive desilting of drainages as well as introduce erosion control strategies in the school curriculum.
Governor Ikpeazu also charged the TC Chairman of Umunneochi Local Government Council,Barr Eze Chikamnayo to look inwards and identify with those things capable of growing the economy of the Local government as well as ensure maximum security by carrying stakeholders and youths in the area along.
In their acceptance speeches, the Commissioner for transport, Mr Godswil Nwanoruo and the T.C Chairman Umunneochi Local Government Council,Barr. Eze Chikamnayo thanked the governor for finding them worthy and for to serve in his cabinet.
They assured the governor of their unflinching loyalty and promised to actualize the polices and programs of the state government.
