The Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, will start the rebuilding of the 3.5km Osisioma-Ekeakpara Road on Wednesday. This road is an important entrance into the Osisioma Industrial complex.
The government of Abia State has stated that it did not raise the fees for tickets or loading for tricycle operators in Umuahia, the state capital.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, mentioned during a press briefing after the executive council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti, that the road also leads to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation depot, Osisioma.
The Commissioner said, "That road is very important because it is infrastructure that will drive the Osisioma Industrial Complex which the state government has started rebuilding, so on Wednesday His Excellency will be at ABA to launch the road".
He also announced that the governor will inaugurate the reconstruction of the 2.5km Umuode-Bakassi Road, Aba, on the same day, which has potential to boost the state’s economic development.
The commissioner also announced that the Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Law Administration and Control, Professor Moji Adeyeye, will be in the state on May 15, on a working visit, where she will meet with the governor and stakeholders from the business community.
He stated that during her visit, the state government would provide 150 CAC business certificates to Abians for free to complement the 25 provided by the NAFDAC.
“More importantly, she will meet with stakeholders in the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises sector, particularly those involved in food, health supplements, and the production of various medications. There’s an effort to ensure compliance with certain standards in these fields to safeguard the lives of our people.
“During that engagement, the state government will provide about 150 free CAC registrations for Abians, through the Ministry of Digital Economy and SMEs. NAFDAC has promised to provide 25 free CAC registrations and certifications. The State government will complement that effort by providing 150 free CAC registrations for Abians”, he said.
In response to questions about protests by tricycle (Keke) operators in Umuahia, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, said there has been no increase in the prices for the operators' tickets or loading fees.
He assured that the government would look into the claims and stressed the need for the tricycle operators' leadership to communicate with the government regarding any issue or policy that negatively affects them.
“There has been no increase of any kind. This is a new policy and I think it would have been best to discuss with the government.
“It’s clear they were in a rush to go and protest. Because the government has treated them with compassion and kindness, it doesn’t mean that the government is stupid. Don’t forget that when the governor came on board there was a tax holiday for them for months. Today, there is nothing like a loading fee. In the past, there was a loading fee. Most importantly, we will ensure that nobody is exploited.”
The Director General of the Greater Aba Development Authority, Arch. Uche Ukeje, stated that the current administration is responsive. He suggested that tricycle operators should discuss any issues with the recently formed task force if needed. He clarified that the reason for painting the tricycles is for security along with numbering them.
Mr Mathew Ekwuribe, the Commissioner for Digital Economy and SMEs, and Mrs. Ugochi Ihediwa, the State Director of Information, were both present at the press briefing.
