Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State Government said it had awarded contract for the construction of the iconic Omenuko bridge at Abam, Arochukwu Local Government Area, linking Abia North and Central senatorial districts.
This is as it announced that the state Head of Service, HoS, Dr Queen Obioma, would by the end of the year, proceed on retirement.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who disclosed this during a press briefing on the outcome of the state Executive Council meeting in Umuahia, said Governor Alex Otti would, in the coming days flag off the Omenuko bridge project.
He regretted that the bridge had been a campaign issue for decades by politicians in the zone who had failed to fulfill their promises.
“For decades, a lot of politicians have taken undue advantage of the deplorable nature of the bridge to make promises they have not kept,” he said.
Responding to a question on whether the state secured approval of the Federal Government before the intervention, the Commissioner said Abia State Government “does not discriminate between federal and state roads as long as the road is in Abia.”
He noted that although it is a federal road, the State Government under the current administration, could not afford to watch idly while commuters go through nightmares posed by the deplorable narrow bridge.
The Commissioner said that it made no sense allowing some politicians to keep dragging who attracted or did not attract the rehabilitation of the federal road, arguing that if they have the capacity to fix the road as they claim, it would have long been reconstructed.
The Commissioner further hinted that the Abia Electricity Bill would soon go for public hearing, adding that the proposed Bill when eventually passed into law, will address challenges of the power sector.
He said that the State Government had put in place, adequate security measures for the peace and safety of residents during the yuletide.
The Commissioner warned residents against burning tyres on roads to avoid damaging the roads.
He also announced ban on the use of fireworks so that criminals would not take undue advantage of that to commit crime.
On the retirement of the HoS, the Commissioner said that the Governor commended her for her meritorious services to the state, and wished her well.
Responding to a question on the recent position of the Senate that states should stop legislating over electricity, Commissioner for Public Utilities, Mr Ikechukwu Monday, said until the 2023 Electricity Act was amended, the state government would not back down on the move to regulate the critical power sector.
He explained that the Bill when passed into law, would act as a catalyst to accessing the electricity market.
According to him, the Law would also lead to the creation of three different agencies to help regulate the sector.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, said Abia State Government would want to accommodate expert opinions before the passage of the proposed Bill into law.
