…Cancels sanitation ahead of Geometric Power inauguration
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State Government has said it was set to establish tuition-free artisan schools in the three senatorial districts in the state to train youths in some skills that are currently lacking in the state.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who disclosed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council in Umuahia, said the students of the school would graduate after one year.
The Commissioner said that the students would be taught solar power assembling and installation, POP designing and installation, painting, masonry, tiling among others.
According to him, the programme was in line with the State Government’s interest in ensuring the abundance of artisans in the State instead of importing them from outside, stating that the graduands would be empowered with funds at the end of their one year training.
“This is a government that does not believe in empowering people with Keke and the likes, rather the government is interested in training people who will acquire skills and who will be trained so that they can stand on their own. So, the schools will be tuition-free and at the end of their training, they will be empowered with funds to go and start their own businesses “
“Of course you know that for quite a while now we have been lacking in artisans that have these skills. Most of the artisans that we have who have skills in these areas come from outside the State and country. So, the State Government is poised to put an end to that to ensure that we have our own young people who will take up all those skills, acquire them and make a living from them.”
Prince Okey Kanu announced the decision of the State Government to suspend the monthly sanitation exercise earlier scheduled to hold this Saturday.
The suspension, according to him, is as a result of the inauguration of Geometric Power scheduled for Saturday, February 24 in Aba. But Ikengaonline reports that the event will now take place two days later on February 26.
“We envisage that a lot of visitors would come from outside the State and when you have such important visitors you don’t need to impede their movement around the state,” he said.
He however encouraged Abians and residents to ensure that their immediate environment is cleaned up on that Saturday.
Ikengaonline had reported that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is expected to inaugurate the multi -million dollar project.
The Commissioner also disclosed that the State Government had banned one-way traffic ( driving against traffic), warning that heavy sanctions await anyone caught flouting the ban.
“Government has banned what we call ‘One way traffic’ in all parts of the State. It is now an offence to drive against traffic . This is in keeping with the culture of doing things right as being preached by this government. So going forward, driving against traffic will be a very serious offence in the State.”
The Commissioner used the opportunity to state that the supply of gas to the Geometric Power Plant in Aba has started in preparation to the forthcoming commissioning of the plant adding that the gas supply comes from Owaza in Ukwa West LGA.
Responding to a question on whether Abia State Government has a stake in the Geometric power, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, said “Government’s only interest is to see that residents enjoy steady power supply.”
“Abia State in terms of financial commitment, does not have a stake. However, we still have a stake and our biggest stake is to make sure enough power is supplied to Aba. So the stake of the people is there. Our plan is to collaborate with them to be successful because we also know that you cannot drive any industrialisation which is a key part of the Governor’s agenda to develop and build up industrialisation and manufacturing in Aba and you can’t do it without power supply. Our interest now is to get power for Abians and we are supporting Geometrics in every way to make this possible.”
The Commissioner for Environment and Urban Renewal, Mr. Philemon Asonye Ogbonna who was part of the briefing, urged Abians to be aware of the effects of climate change which is now affecting the environment.
He said that the current change in weather conditions, is part of the climate change.
