Abia to embark on 219 km road project – Commissioner
* Central bus terminal, urban renewal initiatives
By Steve Oko
Abia State Government says it is to embark on 219 kilometer road projects.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who disclosed this during a press conference in Umuahia, said the project was in partnership with the World Bank under the Rural Access Agricultural and Marketing Project (RAAMP).
He identified 19 kilometre Itungwa-Mgboko-Amairo-Amaise-Ahiahiabaubi-Umuoba road as well as one of the roads projects, adding that
an additional 200 km roads cut across the state.
Prince Kanu said that the State Executive Council had approved in principle, Urban Renewal Initiative with focus on the development of Aba and Umuahia metropolis.
Wawa News Global reports that Prince Kanu was flanked by his Budget and Planning counterpart, Mr Kingsley Anosike, during the press conference.
He said that the initiative would include construction of a central bus terminal in Umuahia, lay-bies and Junction works improvement in certain locations including Isigate and Cooperative junctions.
He further hinted that the central bus terminals and trailer parks would be constructed in Umuahia and Aba respectively.
The initiative, according to him, is to improve on mass transport system in the metropolis, adding that “with the terminal , all the busses in Umuahia will be collapsed into one park”.
He disclosed that the ground breaking ceremony would be performed soon.
The Commissioner further said that the “Light Up Umuahia Initiative has metamorphosed into Light Up Abia Initiative as Government is extending the initiative to Aba, after which it will extend to Ohafia, various LGA headquarters, schools and other public offices and structures”.
He added that the “Light Up Umuahia Initiative is being run side by side with the beautification of the State capital.”
Kanu said that a Help Desk had been set up in the office of the Accountant General of the State where everyone with outstanding salary related challenges should approach .
He dispelled allegations by the opposition that the Governor Alex Otti-led administration had not recorded any achievements to mark its first 100 days in office.
Kanu dismissed the insinuations as propaganda by the opposition to blackmail the Government.
“Social media rantings of the opposition in the state on the issue of achievements in the first 100 days in office of the present administration is a pure political chicanery”, he said.
He queried the morality of the immediate-past Government that owed salaries, some of which amounted to 40 months to criticize Otti’s administration.
The Commissioner explained that Otti’s administration “has not only paid arrears of salaries owed by the immediate past administration but has remained up to date in salary payments as well as lived up to expectations in other aspects of governance, especially in the areas of healthcare, education, waste management, and security”.
He added that “UNDP is equally providing technical assistance which would focus on Internally Generated Revenue, digital economy and investment funds to make the state an investment destination.
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