Governor Alex Otti has charged Abians to protect the various facilities his government is putting in place and ensure they are not vandalised.
The Governor gave the charge while speaking at Ibeku High School field after commissioning various projects undertaken by his administration across 3 LGAs of Abia State Central Senatorial Zone.
These projects include; Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) retrofitted at Owerinta Isialangwa South, Amibo Umuahia South and Ekeoba Umuahia North under Project Ekwueme and 8.3 kilometres Isieketa – Obikabia Road in Isialangwa South LGA and 1.5 IBB Way in Umuahia North LGA.
“Ensure that everything that we are putting in place, the infrastructure, the roads, the equipment we are putting in those primary healthcare centres are secured. Because there is no security better than the security you provide.
“Anytime anybody wants to vandalise public properties, report them to the appropriate authorities. And, we can assure you, we will deal with them,” Gov. Otti assured.
Governor Otti instructed the Commissioner for Works to commence the reconstruction of the Ikot-Ekpene Federal Road , a Road that links the IBB way that was just commissioned.
“We have seen that the Ikot-Ekpene road, linking it (IBB way) is in a very bad state. And I have just moments ago given instruction to the Honourable Commissioner for Works to go and fix that road.
“We are aware that it’s a Federal Road. But, like we have always said, the Federal Government does not use any road. So, whether it’s Federal or State, it is Abia people that use it. And we are going to fix it,” Gov. Otti stated.
Governor Otti assured that the commissioning of roads and the 200 Primary Healthcare Centres that have either been retrofitted or are in the final stages of being fixed would continue.
In their speeches, the Commissioners for Health and Works, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche and Engr. Otumchere Oti saluted the courage of the Governor in retrofitting PHCs in Abia with world class standards and creating access roads for the people in line with his infrastructural development agenda. They stressed the need for the beneficiaries of both the PHCs and the roads to ensure that they are adequately protected.
Speaking, the General Manager, Abia State Debt Management Office and the Abia Central Project Ekwueme Coordinator, Dr. Kingsley Nwaigburu, said that the Governor approved the retrofitting of 64 PHCs in Abia Central alone, adding that the project is real and not audio projects.
Dr. Nwaigburu explained that the projects are impactful as it has made every ward in Abia State to have a functional Primary Healthcare Centre which will cater for the people in the Communities.
Also speaking on behalf of benefiting communities, the Traditional Ruler of Ekeoba Kingdom, Ohuhu, Eze Ambassador Iheanyichukwu Nwokenna described the retrofitting of Primary Healthcare Centres by Governor Alex Otti as a new dawn in the State, adding that, it is a testament to Governor Otti’s resolve to leave indelible footprint in the sand of time.
He noted particularly that the newly retrofitted PHCs, particularly, the Ekeoba Primary Health Center has given his community a sense of belonging as no Government in the past has undertaken such a bold step.
Governor Otti was joined to the commissioning by the Chinese Consul-General with his team and the event attracted many dignitaries, and featured cultural displays and special presentations made for the Governor by the benefiting communities.
Ctz. UKOHA NJOKU UKOHA
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State