Drive against traffic, be treated as criminal, Abia govt warms motorists * As payment of N250k monthly stipend to monarchs begins

Drive against traffic, be treated as criminal, Abia govt warms motorists

* As payment of N250k monthly stipend to monarchs begins

By Steve Oko

UMUAHIA – Abia State Government, has vowed to come hard on traffic offenders in the state warning that henceforth, any motorist that drives against traffic will be treated as a criminal.

Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu who sounded the note of warning during a press briefing on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting of the state, decried the menace of traffic violation by motorists especially tricycle drivers in the state.

This is as the payment of N250,000 monthly stipend to traditional rulers with additional N100,000 to members of the Council of Traditional Rulers, has commenced.

Wawa News Global reports that royal fathers in Abia, before now,  received peanuts as stipends.

The Commissioner said that in order to restore sanity on the roads, a taskforce had been set up to enforce the existing traffic rules in the state.

The Commissioner who also decried the menace of street trading particularly in Aba and Umuahia, said the joint taskforce would begin a crack down on the illegal practice.

“Going forward it will be a serious offence no matter the distance. You see a lot of people within the town drive against the traffic for one reason or the other.

“It is now a very serious offence and the harmonized taskforce has been rejigged to ensure full compliance to that policy. Government is poised to ensure that there is full compliance to that.”

Speaking further, the Commissioner said that the Alex Otti-led administration was set to re-base and update the 30 years development plan of the State Government.

According to him, re-basing has become imperative in view of the economic realities in the country, adding that there is need to carry out the exercise to reflect the real position of the state’s economy.

The Commissioner hinted that the state economic team charged with the assignment would be inaugurated soon.

He equally said that in order to give further impetus to the traditional institution in the state, government has commenced the payment of monthly stipend ranging from N250,000 to N350,000 to traditional rulers in the state.

Kanu added that members of the Council of Traditional Rulers both at the State and Local Government levels would get additional N100,000 monthly .

“All these are being done to give the pride of place to our traditional rulers who are partners in progress with the state government”, the Commissioner said

He further said that the State Government was set to regulate the Right of Way for laying of telecommunications cables around the state.

This, according to him, is to regulate the activities of telecom companies who escalate roads to lay cables.

“The final document for the right of way regulation for laying of telecom cables around the state has been produced and this will come into effect very soon.

“That is made to regulate how telecommunications cables are laid across the state,” Kanu explained.

Contributing, Commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr David Kalu said that the regulation would provide rules of laying cables and added that the Abia State government is domesticating a Start Up Act aimed at helping science and technology start ups.

According to him, the programme would involve training and processes that would enhance businesses of start ups especially in areas such as online content, branding etc.

He disclosed that the first science and technology week will take place in Abia state between the 24th and 29th of March 2025. He said plans have commenced in that regard and science and technology companies and high technology experts would participate during the week.

He equally said that a special programme tagged “STEM” , that is Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics targeted at senior secondary school students which aims at investing in the future of science students is ongoing in the state.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, his Transport counterpart, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma and the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha were present at the briefing.

Steve Oko, Publisher/C.E.O, WaWa News Global. For more information on advert placement and news coverage, contact us on: 08038725600, or via email stevemanofgod2000@yahoo.com; wawanewsglobal@gmail.com Always read WaWa News Global - Your most dependable online news platform for the latest breaking news in Nigeria.

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