ABIA STATE GOVT TO ENFORCE BAN ON STREET TRADING

REPORTER: PEACE AGBO

Abia State Government says it will no longer tolerate street trading in major cities of the state.

The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, alongside the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr. Monday Ikechukwu, stated this while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

Prince kanu said, in line with the efforts of the present administration to maintain high level serene environment, a committee has been set up to ensure strict compliance in nooks and crannies in the state.

He noted that the Aba International Trade Fair, billed to commence this week, was meant to bring SMEs together to showcase the potential of the state to the world.

The Information Commissioner stressed that Aba Chamber of Commerce Industries Mines and Agriculture was working with the government to make the event a huge success.

While noting that Aba and Umuahia had been turned to construction sites, Prince Kanu said asphalt would be laid on Uzuakoli road while Alayi-Ozuitem road had been earmarked for rehabilitation, noting that the road had remained deplorable for many years.

Also, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr. Monday Ikechukwu, said his ministry was working with EDDC to restore light to all government establishments that were previously disconnected from the national grid due to nonpayment of electricity bills.

The Commissioner noted that the effort had led to the reconnection of some government establishments while private businesses would also benefit from the gesture to boost businesses in the state.

Mr. Ikechukwu announced that government was working out modalities to power public schools and communities with renewable energy,

He added that efforts were in top gear for the stage to domestic the electricity Act, to grant the state the authority to generate, transmit and distribute power.

Answering questions from journalists, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties, Dr. Betty Obasi, said the state government had errected a vision corridor in some motor parks, workers’ secretariat and other public places in the state as a way of reaching out to the public as the globe marks the 2023 World Sight Day with the theme ” Loving your eyes at your place of work.”

Dr. Obasi said the administration was committed towards upgrading health facilities in the state to a world class standard.

He noted that the newly retrofitted eye centre at the Abia Specialist Hospital Umuahia, had been repositioned to serve the people better.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU