Abia State government has charged President-Generals of Town Unions, Traditional Rulers, and security agencies to devise new strategies to curb the growing cases of the vandalism of power assets and other government projects across the state.
Addressing Newsmen on the outcome of this week’s Executive Council, meeting at government House Umuahia, the Commissioner for Information Prince Okey Kanu frowned at the rate of vandalism public properties, lamenting that such unwholesome acts disrupt the flow of electricity as well as create additional financial burden on Government.
Prince Kanu who announced that restoration of Power to Ohafia, Abam in Arochukwu, Ezere to Acha in Isuikwuato LGA are all ongoing, revealed that the Abam power project which is on the second phase will cover four communities while that of Ohafia is almost 100% completed.
He equally said that the Power Restoration Project in Nsulu Isialangwa North and parts of Ukwa East Local Government will commence in a fortnight, adding that
the Renewable Energy Deployment to various Primary Health Centers are ongoing as the State Government has set a new standard that all functionalized PHCs must be accompanied with renewable energy.
He said that the new 15 MVA Injection Sub-station Project at Ogurube layout Umuahia has commenced in collaboration with the Niger Delta Power Holding to improve power supply within the state capital, noting that when completed will bring a new lease of life to residents in Umuahia the state capital.
On Water Project, The Information Commissioner said The water projects under the Abia Integrated Water Sanitation and Hygiene Programme are ongoing, as rehabilitation of five water schemes, including pipeline reticulation are at different levels or stages of completion.
Answering questions on flooding in some communities in the state, Prince Kanu said, the state government through the ministry of Environment has visited and commiserated affected communities and victims of flooding, adding that efforts have been on to address causes of flooding in Aba and Umuahia even before the rains set in.
Also speaking on the flooding issue,the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, while attributing the flooding to climate change, said government is committed to addressing issues of flooding in flood-prone areas in Umuahia and Aba, adding that SEMA is working on providing relief materials to affected communities.
In his contribution, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Mr Ikechukwu Monday, disclosed that the four communities benefiting from the second phase of the electricity restoration project in Abam are Atani, Ndi Oji, Ndi Ememe and Ndi Orie.
