…As Abia begins enforcement of driving against traffic
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Governor Alex Otti, would in the days ahead inaugurate 42 projects initiated and completed by his administration.
This is as the State has commenced the enforcement of violation of traffic rules (one way driving), with a vow to deal ruthlessly with offenders.
According to the State Government, an enforcement task force will impound any vehicle used in driving against traffic, and auction it if the owner fails to pay the necessary penalties on time.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, who disclosed this during a press briefing on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting, said the Governor would also flag off 13 new projects within the period.
Kanu said “the commissioning and flagging off of the projects are part of the massive infrastructural transformation agenda of Gov. Otti.”
He said that the Governor had kept his promise to Abia people that under his watch the state would witness progress and transformation.
Kanu said: “As promised by His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti, over the next few weeks we will witness an unprecedented commissioning and flag off of projects in the state. A total of 55 projects will either be commissioned or flagged off.
“A breakdown shows that 42 projects will be commissioned, while 13 new projects will be flagged off. This brings the number to a total of 55 in all. This is quite unprecedented for a sub-national.
“This is more than an eloquent testimony of the massive transformational projects that the Abia State Government has been able to build in the state in the past two years under Gov. Otti.”
He listed the projects to include: 17 primary health centres across 17 LGAs of the state; 14 road projects for commissioning; as well as additional projects across different Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).
The Commissioner also announced that henceforth, anyone caught “driving against traffic” would be arrested and made to pay a penalty.
He said that the State Government through the state Ministry of Transport, had established an enforcement team to enforce the driving against traffic that has become prevalent in state.
“People call it one-way driving. The government has taken time to observe how this has become a menace in our cities, particularly in Umuahia and Aba.
“The government has decided to stop this scourge. Driving against traffic is causing a lot of accidents across the state, and the time has come for the culprits to be apprehended.
“The enforcement of these rules will be very stringent. Offenders will be prosecuted and fined very heavily, and when you cannot pay your fines, your vehicle will be impounded.
“Over time, if you don’t pick it up, it will be auctioned. They are going to be very stringent so that people will begin to learn how to conduct themselves, drive safely in our cities, and stop endangering the lives of other road users,” he stated.
He said that the State Government was impressed with the performance of the state’s contingent at the just-concluded National Sports Festival in Ogun State where Abia recorded a total of 70 medals comprising 12 gold, 18 silver, and 40 bronze.
He said that Abia clinched the 11th position on the overall medal table.
Kanu was flanked at the briefing by the Commissioner for Transport, Dr Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu; his Youth and Sports Development counterpart, Sir Nwaobilor Nwadinma Ananaba; and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma.
