The Abia State Government has approved the construction and deployment of 100 additional waste receptacle bins across the State as part of efforts to enhance sanitation and sustain environmental cleanliness.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing Journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Prince Kanu revealed that Governor Otti had granted approval for the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) to oversee the initiative, with the construction of the bins being handled by Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba.
He said the deployment of the additional bins will strengthen the ongoing Waste Management reforms initiated by the Otti led administration.
“With the deployment of these additional bin buckets, it is hoped that the laudable waste disposal and sanitation activities of ASEPA will take the State to an even higher level of cleanliness”, he added.
Prince Kanu further disclosed that the State Ministry of Works currently has Direct Labour projects in 48 locations across Abia, of which five have been completed while five new projects have been added to the Ministry’s maintenance schedule.
“The completed Direct Labour works include the Rehabilitation of the 1.175km Brewery Road Extension in Aba; Maintenance of the 2.7km Umueze–Agbo Emede Road in Umuahia North LGA; Construction of Senator Adolphus Wabara Road off IBB–Ahieke Road, Umuahia; Repair and maintenance of Road 4, Area 1, Agbama Housing Estate, Umuahia; and Reconstruction of Nwala Street, Aba, into a 9.55m-wide road”, Prince Kanu said.
He further listed new additions to the maintenance schedule to include: Construction of the link road from Chief Nkoro Street to Udagbara Road, Aba; Rehabilitation of Bordex Avenue, Aba;
Maintenance of Obikabia Road by the Obingwa Town Planning Authority; Maintenance of failed sections of the the Federal Medical Centre, internal roads, Umuahia (totaling about 2.1km); and Construction of Obikabia–Umueleke Road in Isiala Ngwa North, measuring 1.9km.
Prince Kanu disclosed that, beyond the Direct Labour works, construction is ongoing in 32 other locations under contract and encouraged contractors to take advantage of the clement weather intensify work on the sites.
The Commissioner also noted that the State’s Zero Pothole Initiative is ongoing across Abia, “particularly in the Capital city Umuahia”, as part of the present administration’s resolve to keep roads in good condition.
“You will notice that once you drive across a pothole, probably by the time you come back the next day, that pothole may have been covered up”, Prince Kanu said.
He emphasized that the initiative, handled by engineers of the Ministry of Works, adds to the State’s “stellar achievements in road infrastructure.”
