Abia State Government has said it is set to initiate the expansion of the Abia Express Tower to Micheal Okpara Square leading to Umuahia city center, transforming it into a six-lane road.
The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, during a press briefing at the Government House in Umuahia, following the Executive Council Meeting held yesterday.
The Commissioner noted that the six lane road project is embarked upon to give the capital city of the state a facelift as well as so as to ease traffic within the city center.
He said ; “As the construction work commences, government will do the needful with regards to payment of compensation to owners of the buildings that would be affected by the road expansion project.
“There is an extant law with regards to public buildings. Anyone who puts up a structure illegally or in the wrong place will not be compensated”.
The Commissioner who identified several other key roads, including Port Harcourt road, Old Aba – Owerri road, Ikot Ekpene – Umuahia Road amongst others for reconstruction said the present government is actively rehabilitating about nine roads in both Aba and Umuahia, aimed at enhancing the overall quality of life for residents.
Kanu stated that one of the notable accomplishments of the government is fulfilling its promise to pay the arrears of salaries to Abia workers pointing out that Civil servants have received their April salaries, while retirees have been paid their pensions for June and urged those within the Local Government system to expect their payments this week.
The Commissioner however emphasized that civil servants should reciprocate the state government’s efforts by fulfilling their responsibilities diligently.
Regarding the purported dismissal of medical doctors in the state’s employ and the Enyimba football club coach, Finidi George, the Commissioner urged the public to disregard such rumors adding that the rumors were baseless distractions aimed at undermining the progressive government led by Dr. Alex Otti.
In her reaction,the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ngozi Okoronkwo, refuted the rumors about the sack of medical doctors and clarified that the government is, in fact, working on revamping the health sector disclosing that plans are underway to recruiting more medical doctors to bolster the present workforce and improve healthcare services in the state.
According to the health commissioner,part of the present administration’s healthcare initiatives include plans to renovate and equip health facilities such as the Abia State Diagnostic Center in Umuahia and its Amachara Annex, the Cottage Hospital in Abayi Aba, and the Umunneato General Hospital, including its psychiatric wing, to mark the Governor’s first 100 days of office.
In response to queries about the delay in salary payments to Local Government workers and employees, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Uzor Nwachukwu, attributed the delay to ongoing verification exercises.
However, he assured that the issues had been resolved, and Local Government workers and primary school teachers would receive their salaries promptly this week.
Mr. Nwachukwu also commended Dr. Alex Otti’s government for increasing the monthly stipends of traditional rulers from 3% to 5%, an action which he said has demonstrated the present administration’s commitment to the welfare of various stakeholders in the state.
