Governor Otti To Flag Off Osisioma-Ekeakpara And Umuode-Bakassi Road Constructions

Abia State Governor , Dr Alex Otti will Wednesday this week flag off the reconstruction of the 3.5km Osisioma-Ekeakpara road which is a major gateway into the Osisioma Industrial complex.

The Commissioner for Information and Culture Prince Okey Kanu who stated this while briefing newsmen, said that the road equally leads to the NNPC depot, Osisioma.

“That road is a very important one because it is gateway to infrastructural facilities that will drive the Osisioma Industrial Complex which the state government has started rebuilding and on Wednesday his excellency will be at Aba to flag the road off”, the Commissioner disclosed.

He equally announced that the Governor will same day flag off the reconstruction of the 2.5km Umuode- Bakassi road Aba which has lots of potential to spark off economic development of the state.

The information Commissioner also announced that the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Law Administration and Control ( NAFDAC),Professor Moji Adeyeye will be in the state on the 15th of this month on a working visit where she would call on the Governor and thereafter meet with stakeholders and the business community.

He said that the state government would, during the period of the visit provide free 150 CAC business certificates to Abians to compliment the 25 pieces to be provided by  NAFDAC.

“More importantly, she will meet with stakeholders in the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises sector particularly those involved in food, health supplements and production of various medications.

“There’s this drive towards ensuring that there’s compliance with certain standards in all those fields to ensure that those who produce the things that people consume stick to certain standards to safeguard the lives of our people.

“During that engagement, the state government will provide about 150 free CAC registrations for Abians and that’s through the Ministry of Digital Economy and SMEs.

“NAFDAC has promised that they would provide 25 free CAC registrations and certifications. The State government will compliment that effort by providing 150 free CACs registrations for Abians”, Prince Kanu further explained.

Responding to questions on protest by tricycle (Keke) operators in Umuahia, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma said there is no increase in the tickets nor loading fee for the operators.

He assured that government would investigate the allegations and stressed on the need for the leaders  of the tricycle operators to engage the government on any issue or policy of government that affects them negatively.

“There is no increment of any kind. There is no loading fee. This is a new policy and I think the best thing would have been to engage government in a discussion.

” It’s obvious they were in a hurry to go and protest. Because the government has treated them with so much compassion and kindness, it doesn’t mean that government is stupid. Don’t forget that when the governor came on board there was tax holiday for them for months . Today, there is nothing like loading fee. In the past there was loading fee. The most important thing is that we will ensure that nobody is exploited.”

Contributing, the Director General, Greater Aba Development Authority
(GADA), Arch. Uche Ukeje said that the present administration is responsive, adding that if there are issues, the tricycle operators should engage the taskforce recently constituted by the government.

He maintained that the idea behind the painting of the tricycles is security based because the painting goes with numbering of the tricycles.

The Commissioner for Digital Economy and SMEs Mr Mathew Ekwuribe and the State Director of Information, Mrs. Ugochi Ihediwa were present at the press briefing.