Abia State Government, in its efforts to eradicate all forms of touting, has approved the formation of a Unified Taskforce to oversee all enforcement activities and government initiatives for both the State and Local Governments.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu disclosed this at Government House Umuahia, while briefing Journalists on the outcome of this week’s Exco meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Prince Okey Kanu
The Commissioner further disclosed that the State Government is set to hold a retreat for the members of the Taskforce ahead of their formal inauguration by the State government.
Prince Kanu highlighted the significance of the upcoming retreat, scheduled this week, as a crucial step towards ensuring the task force’s effectiveness to ensure professional operation and adherence to set guidelines.
He said that the Taskforce membership would be drawn from various Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) and Local Government Areas within the metropolis, aims to put an end to the long standing concerns regarding touting and unnecessary harassment of Abia citizens and residents.
Prince Kanu expressed confidence that with the task force in place, such issues would be effectively curtailed, ensuring a safer and more conducive environment for all.
“There will be a retreat later in the week for the take off of the unified task force being sponsored by the state government. That is the one stop task force that will handle all issues of enforcement and government initiatives across the state.
“The Retreat would grant them the opportunity to dot every i and cross every T’s prior to their formal outing. Once they are in place, every issue about touting and unnecessary harassment of Abia citizens and residents would cease“, the Commissioner assured.
The Commissioner announced a partnership between the state government and Hungarian scouts, currently in the State to scout for talents in the Governor’s Unity Games among secondary schools.
Prince Kanu said that the collaboration aims to establish an International Sports College in Abia, to foster opportunities for young talents in various sporting activities to excel globally.
He used the opportunity to announce the scheduled flag off of the construction of the 11.5-kilometer Nunya-Eluama road on Tuesday, March 26th by Governor Alex Otti and added that the road, which traverses communities like Umuebere, Umunnekwu, Amiyi Obinohia, and Amaba, would facilitate transportation of agricultural produce, enhance connectivity and economic development in the region.
Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma
Contributing, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, emphasized that the Unified Taskforce, organized into six zones, with two in Umuahia and four in Aba, will have coordinators responsible for maintaining the Taskforce’s mandate.
He reiterated that the Taskforce’s objective is to eliminate illegal activities such as harassment and extortion of citizens and residents of the state and provide a more accountable and remunerated structure.
“The essence of what government is doing as far as this one is concerned is to bring to an end to anything that has to do with touting, illegal taskforce and all the rest of them.
“We were used to having individuals harassing people, intimidating them , extorting them in the name of taskforce so we want to move away from that old order and that is why, this one is well organized.
“The members (of the taskforce) will be known, they are all going to be remunerated. It is not the one where people will just do all kinds of things to make money and put in their pockets in the name of collecting revenue for government . They are going to operate in a most responsible manner”, Mr Ekeoma assured.
