Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, OFR, has called on stakeholders, traders, and residents of Aba to help protect newly built infrastructure and sustain the city’s improved cleanliness under his administration.
Governor Otti made the appeal on Tuesday while receiving executives of the Association of International Traders (AIT) and the Ultimate Importers Association (UIA), led by their presidents Prince Edmund Igwe and Chief Iroegbu U. Agu, who visited to thank him for transforming Aba’s landscape and reviving business activities in the city.
Otti acknowledged the groups’ appreciation, noting that it is the government’s responsibility to provide an enabling environment for hardworking people to thrive.
“Aba was abandoned for several decades. It became a major item on our agenda to recover it. We have done two years and a few months now, and I am happy that we have been successful in that journey. There is still a lot to do, and we are not resting on our oars,” he said.
The governor urged residents to protect public assets such as roads, schools, hospitals, drainage systems, and streetlights from vandalism and theft.
Citing a recent incident in which a cable thief was electrocuted in Aba, he said:
“Those kinds of stories should not be heard in Abia State, where somebody will go and steal cables so that the light we have restored would not be available for everybody.”
Governor Otti stressed the importance of keeping Aba clean, warning that refuse dumps will not be allowed to return.
“It should be a vigorous campaign in the whole of Aba. If you see anyone throwing refuse, you call the person to order. Let it become the new mantra – that it is forbidden to dump refuse carelessly,” he emphasized.
He disclosed that the Greater Aba Development Agency (GADA) has commenced rehabilitation of inner-city roads as part of the state’s wider urban renewal programme.
Leaders of the AIT and UIA commended the governor for reviving critical infrastructure, improving security, and boosting business confidence.
They recalled how Aba previously suffered from infrastructural collapse, insecurity, and accidents, but said conditions have now significantly improved.
“Trucks and containers no longer fall on top of each other as was the case just two years back. Warehouses are no longer broken into at will. We cannot thank you enough, sir,” the traders said.
In his vote of thanks, the association’s PRO, Chief James Agbagha Ochunkwo, hailed the governor’s unprecedented infrastructural interventions and urged him to sustain the pace, noting that businesses were returning to the state.
Governor Otti was joined at the meeting by the Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu; Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Mr. Chibueze Nwokocha; Special Adviser on Trade and Commerce, Chief Nwaka Inem; and Senior Special Assistant on Transport, Dr. Obioma Nwaogbe.
📩 Contact us: info@stonereportersnews.com
🌍 Website: stonereportersnews.com
🔗 Follow Stone Reporters for trusted updates on governance, energy, environment, and national development.
📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNews
Add comment
Comments