Abia State Government has warned that it would go all out to enforce the ban on Street trading in the State, especially Aba, the commercial nerve centre of the State as from next year.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu disclosed this while briefing the press on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti. He regretted that Street trading in the State has become a menace and was adversely impacting on the newly constructed roads by the government.
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti.
According to him, despite spirited efforts by the government to arrest the menace it was continuing unabated, warning that government will not fold it’s arms and watch the anomaly continue.
“With all the efforts Government has made, this menace (Street trading) keeps rearing its ugly head, particularly in Aba. Incidentally, most of the new roads that the government has constructed , people use them to trade and this will not augur well for these new roads. There has been a lot of interface between government officials and the market authorities and in other instances, the culprits as it were, everything has been done , but to no avail. Despite the fact that this government puts human face in its activities, by the New Year, government will go all out to enforce the law.”
Prince Kanu reasured the government’s determination on ensuring that one carriage way of the Ossah-Okpara Square road would be completed and used this Yuletide. He also informed that the same effort is being put in place for the Aba – Port-harcourt express way while the government is sustaining its various road rehabilitations across the State due to how central road infracstructure is to the Otti led administration. He also disclosed that so far 27 roads have been fixed and some of them, including Jubilee Road, Aba would soon be commissioned .
Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu
The Commissioner for Information and Culture informed that Governor Alex Otti is committed to making good his promise of defraying all arrears of pensions owed pensioners by previous administration,
“As a responsive and responsible government, this administration will keep to its promise. The Governor, Dr. Alex Otti will keep to his promises of paying off all the outstanding pension arrears. In the coming days we will be able to avail you information in that regard”
He revealed that the State government has installed over 1,700 Solar powered Street lights in Aba and Umuahia, adding that, that is in line with the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and a step up to full renewable energy policy in the State.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday stated that the Light Up Abia Initiative is aimed at lighting every Street with solar light, “we started with Umuahia first, now we have moved to Aba. So, next year, we will be also moving to other communities. We want to make sure that every Street and every village in Abia is lightened up. And the conventional street lights,we are also replacing them with solar”
Engr. Monday disclosed that,
“We are also collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Power to see how we can boost power supply in Abia State.” He revealed that,
“there is a project, which is 132 KVA line that is supposed to run from Umuahia to Mbalano, from Mbalano to Okigwe, this project was awarded in 2001 and it was abandoned. So , this project when executed, would have helped to improve the power supply within that axis.”
He said the government cannot drive industrialization without power supply, hence its commitment to improving power supply. He stated that the project is going to commence again, adding that, another project of 120 KVA that also runs from Ohafia and Arochukwu would be commenced soon as discussions with staff are on in that regard.
Azubuike Jinanwa/Divine Nwankwo Govt. House Press, Umuahia.
