Metro

Ossah-Tower road expansion: Abia Govt delays demolition, prepares to pay compensation

The Abia Government has announced a shift in the actual date of commencement of demolition of affected structures at the proposed Ossah -Tower road expansion by three weeks.

This is part of the resolution reached at the end of this week’s State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti.

He further said that the Light Up Abia Initiative and the Free Medical Services by the government are ongoing in fulfillment of Governor Alex Otti’s campaign promises. He disclosed that an additional 12 General Hospitals would be rebuilt and fully equipped before the end of this year in addition to the 3, which would be ready by the end of this month.

Prince Kanu made public that some Abians in the diaspora have indicated their willingness to collaborate with the State government to provide quality healthcare services to Abians. He regretted that before now, many Abians were not using Government hospitals and stressed that the narrative is being changed with what Government is currently doing in the health sector.

He also said that the Single Treasury Account (TSA) launched by the State Government would commence on the first of September as stipulated, saying that the aim is to encourage due process and transparency. According to him, the ban on the use of motorcycles in the Aba and Umuahia metropolis is still enforced,d and he warned security agencies to desist from extorting money from persons in the guise of enforcing the ban.

Contributing, the Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije, revealed that a total of 160 structures are affected in the demolition exercise and disclosed that all the structures have been enumerated and valued Mr. Chukwumerije said that before the demolition commences, compensations would be paid in tranches, adding that the essence of moving the date of the demolition which was billed for 14th August forward was to give the affected persons time to relocate as the government of Dr. Alex Otti is a responsive one, adding that they are not in a hurry to demolish but to develop.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs Ngozi Felix, who informed that Abia State would hold the Abia Women August Delegates’ Conference (AWADEC) on Tuesday, 15th August 2023 at the International Conference Centre, disclosed that the event was initiated to propel ideological shift and capay development among women in the State.

Mrs Felix said the event would feature the empowerment of 102 women in three categories, including; people with disability, indigent and elderly women. She further disclosed that Abia State would, in September this year, host gender-based violence sensitization programme which would involve many stakeholders in the society.

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