Abia state Government has expressed readiness to recover all public assets and lands which had been illegally converted to private use by individuals.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu stated this at Government House Umuahia while briefing Journalists on the outcome of the state Executive Council Meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Prince Kanu said that the recovery of public assets and lands illegally converted to personal use would be “fully and duly enforced”.
“Only an irresponsible government would watch its assets converted to private use by individuals.
“So, this exercise is ongoing and government is very committed to recovering every other asset that has been illegally converted,” Kanu added.
The Commissioner who voiced concerns over the persistent issue of street trading in Aba stated that it poses a challenge to the ongoing construction works in the city.
Prince Kanu stressed that the crackdown on street trading is essential to safeguard the new roads and infrastructure that the government is constructing and expressed belief that the residents of Aba would heed the government’s call to cease street trading and move to established marketplaces.
He said; “You know that construction works are underway in Aba, and government efforts will not yield the desired results if something serious is not done about street trading”.
The Commissioner further explained that sensitization exercises are already in progress and will continue in the coming weeks and added that the initiative aims to educate street traders on the importance of relocating to designated market areas.
“Once we are done with the sensitization program, it will be time for enforcement”, Kanu stated.
On road construction, Kanu disclosed that five roads including Jubilee, Udeagbala, Umuimo, MCC and Old Express roads have been completed by the present administration and would be due for commissioning next week.
Kanu said that Palliative works on some roads have been completed while drainage works, cutting, hacking and filling of some roads in Umuahia and Aba are currently ongoing.
“Uzuakoli -Umuahia road is 90% completed, Road 2 low-cost housing estate has been Asphalted, Agbama upstairs line/Opet has been Asphalted as well.
“The Palliative works on Aba road had been completed same with Otuka road“, Kanu remarked.
Present during the briefing were the Commissioner for Health Ngozi Okoronkwo and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade and Investment, Chief Nwaka Inem
