The Abia State Government has organised a one-day intensive security workshop and training for Container Unloader Unions in Aba, aimed at partnering with them for intelligence gathering and enhanced security in the state.
The unloaders, who work with the Association of International Traders (AIT) and the Ultimate Importers Association (UIA) in Aba, were trained on threat management, communication and information sharing.
Declaring the workshop open on Tuesday at Panyu Hotels Aba, with the theme; “Partnership Between Government and Frontline Unloaders: Threat, Communication and Information Management”, Governor Alex Otti urged Abians and residents to actively support efforts to secure Aba and Abia State at large.
“What I want us to know is that all of us have a role to play. Aba is very known for the strength of its commerce. We want to live in a secure, safe environment. And that is why all of us have a role to play. That is why there is a workshop like this.
“I see a workshop like this as another demonstration of the willingness of our government to make our society safe, to ensure that we live in a very decent environment, to create a decent society”, Governor Otti said.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Kenneth Kalu, Governor Otti encouraged participants to take the training seriously, assuring them of his administration’s commitment to transforming Aba.
“I want to encourage us to take this workshop seriously. Our security agents will work with us, but we need to put in our best.
“Success comes when there is collective effort. Collective effort means everyone doing that which he or she should do, that’s the only way to make progress.
“We are committed to transforming Aba to that industrial hub which it should be. We are committed in word and action in rebuilding our state for the good of everyone. We sincerely desire for all of us to thrive,” he maintained.
Speaking at the event, the President of the Association of International Traders (AIT), Prince Edmund Igwe, said the workshop was one of the dividends of their recent visit to Governor Otti.
Prince Igwe noted that the present administration had brought an end to decades of hardship suffered by businesses in Aba.
He lamented that many traders and investors had abandoned the state in the past due to an unfriendly business environment and expressed gratitude to the present government for organising the training.
Some participants, including the Chairman of Newlife Container Unloaders, Comrade Francis Azubuike, Chairman of Goodhope International Company, Gabriel Ogali and Mr Nwaibu Sylvester, commended Governor Otti for the initiative, describing it as the first of its kind.
They expressed optimism that the training would strengthen the relationship between the unions and the government while improving security in Aba and Abia in general.
The workshop was attended by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ctz. Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, the Governor’s personal physician, Dr Idika Idika, as well as representatives of the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Department of State Security Services (DSS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other dignitaries.
