Abia govt declares war against dealers on fake drugs, adulterated products

Abia govt declares war against dealers on fake drugs, adulterated products

. Warns residents against fraudulent land speculators

By Steve Oko

Abia State Government has declared war against peddlers of fake drugs and other adulterated products especially beverages in the state.

This is as it also warned residents against being defrauded by fraudulent land speculators who specialize in selling land allocations without documents to their victims.

Government, therefore, advised land buyers to make necessary inquiries from the Ministry of Lands and Housing before entering into transaction with land speculators to avoid losing their hard-earned money.

Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who addressed newsmen on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting, vowed that henceforth, anybody found engaging in the production or distribution of fake drugs or fake beverages in the state would be severely dealt with.

He said that dealers on fake and adulterated products “are giving the state bad image”, and would not be tolerated.

The Commissioner said:”That’s not who we are, and henceforth anybody found in the unwholesome act will face the full weight of the law”.

He hinted that the State Government, in partnership with security agencies, would embark on a fierce crackdown against the menace.

Kanu further said that the State Government had concluded arrangements to relocate illegal traders from Isigate to Okwulaga -Afara, Umuahia, where land had been acquired for a relief market.

This, according to him, is part of Government’s efforts to make Umuahia, the state capital a smart city.

According to him, part of the initiatives includes the construction of bus shelters within Umuahia metropolis.

He said:”In continuation of the infrastructural development agenda of the state, the State government is poised to embark on a number of urban renewal and beautification initiatives that are geared towards making Umuahia, the state capital a Smart City.

” The State Government is on the cusp of relocating the illegal Isigate market to Afara. The idea is to decongest the city centre in Umuahia.

” Please, be informed that land for the new market has been completed and compensation duly paid to the land owners . At this point, the building of a perimeter fencing round the market is ongoing.

“Like I said earlier, the relocation is geared towards decongesting Isigate and making way for the new bus terminal and other transport and beautification projects around that part of the capital city,” Prince Kanu stated.

On the dismantling of building projections, the Commissioner said the Umuahia Capital Development Authority ( UCDA) had come up with a measure to standardize the initiative.

He said:”going forward, landlords will be allowed to project their buildings and the specification is about 1.5 meters. The idea is to standardize the design for the projections across the length and breadth of the state particularly in Umuahia, Aba and Ohafia.”

He further said that part of the initiatives for the Smart City is the construction and expansion of 1.385 kilometres Library Avenue (Bank road) into a two- lane road on either side of the median.

Kanu added that drainage improvement works is also part of the package. He said that by the time the project is finished, it would enhance the aesthetics towards the Government House from either side of Okpara Avenue from FMC axis.

He equally informed that the initiatives include the construction of bus shelters within Umuahia, disclosing that currently, civil works is ongoing at about 10 proposed shelters starting from Aguiyi Ironsi Boulevard.

The Information Commissioner revealed that in furtherance to the road development agenda of the state government , there are 28 ongoing construction projects across the state with the contractors on all the site working very hard to beat the deadline that has been set for them.

He also revealed that there are about 44 direct labour sites where work was ongoing and few of them have been completed with about 35 on course.

The Commissioner warned against driving against traffic, vowing that violators will be prosecuted “no matter how short the distance might be”.

He further hinted of plans by the State Government in partnership with private developers to embark on four housing projects in the months ahead.

According to him, two of the proposed projects are around Umuahia , one in Aba while the other is located in Ukwa West respectively.

He said that discussions were ongoing with developers and the affected areas are Valley View in Umuahia, Mbaisii, Mgbarakuma and Obehie in Ukwa West LGA.

Contributing, the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr Chaka Chukwumereije said that a lot would be happening in the housing sector in the state this year, disclosing that the state government is embarking on housing project that is called the New Umuahia project .

According to him, the new Umuahia is located between Umuahia Tower and Ntigha in Isiala Ngwa Norrh LGA and it would cover about an area of 2,000 hectares, affecting about 19 communities at that corridor. He said that the public would be duly informed as soon as the paper works are completed.

Contributing also, General Manager, UCDA), Mr. Kingsley Agomuo said that the planned relocation of illegal traders from Isigate to the newly acquired site at the Relief Market at Umunze -Okwulaga Afara would happen soon.

He said:”The perimeter fencing is ongoing while compensation has been paid to land owners”, adding that the Bus terminal at the Abia Tower axis of the Enugu/Port Harcourt express way would soon under go renovation to serve as park for heavy duty trucks.

Responding to questions, questions, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma made said that all forms of illegal motor parts existing at Isigate would be shut down.

End

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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