Abia Begins Enforcement of Waste Bins in Commercial Vehicles

The Abia State Government has announced the immediate commencement of full enforcement of the use of waste bins in all commercial vehicles operating across the state as part of efforts to sustain environmental cleanliness and promote responsible waste disposal habits among commuters.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.

According to the commissioner, the initiative is being driven by the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency as part of ongoing sanitation campaigns that have helped position the state among the cleanest in the country.

Prince Kanu stated that the enforcement was aimed at ensuring that passengers dispose of waste responsibly while commuting within and outside the state.

Road Infrastructure Progress

The Information Commissioner also gave updates on road infrastructure projects being executed by the current administration, noting that significant progress had been recorded across the state.

He disclosed that out of 29 roads currently under contract, three projects had been completed and would soon be commissioned. The completed roads include the 2.213-kilometre Umuogo-Nsukwe Ring Road, the 5.95-kilometre dualisation of the Onuimo Bridge–Abia Tower Road, and the 11.5-kilometre expansion and reconstruction of the Nunya-Eluama Road.

Prince Kanu further revealed that five roads being handled under the Direct Labour initiative had also been completed out of 51 ongoing projects.

The projects include maintenance of failed sections of the Osisioma Flyover, rehabilitation of failed portions along the Port Harcourt–Enugu Expressway leading to the Ugwunagbo Local Government Secretariat, asphalt overlay of Adaelu Road from Osisioma Junction to Mopol Base in Aba, construction of the Oberete-Umuopara Road in Obingwa Local Government Area, and the construction of the Geometric Power to Guinness Junction Road in Aba.

World Bank Partnership

The commissioner also disclosed that Governor Otti recently paid a courtesy visit to the new World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Matthews Verghis, in Abuja to strengthen development partnerships between the state and the global financial institution.

According to him, the meeting provided an opportunity for both parties to review existing collaborative programmes and explore new areas of partnership capable of accelerating development in the state.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Ngozi Felix, commended the governor’s engagement with the World Bank, expressing optimism that the discussions would improve the state’s access to World Bank-supported programmes.

Mrs. Felix identified energy, education, agriculture and Information and Communication Technology as major areas of collaboration, noting that the sectors align with Governor Otti’s development agenda for the state.