Ogbonnaya Ikokwu, Umuahia
The Abia State Goverment has given a two-week extra notice to residents of Umuahia, the state capital, to remove all extensions and illegal attachments to their buildings.
The state’s Commissioner for information, Prince Okey Kanu announced this on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s Executive Conucil meeting presided by Governor Alex Otti.
He said the notice was part of effort by the state government to give a human face to her determination to give the state capital a facelift in infrastructural development.
The commissioner pointed out that the state government will commence the full enforcement of the order, by removing the illegal structures at the expiration of the notice.
“Government had given enough time for the owners of the affected buildings to remove the extensions and attachments to their buildings. After the two weeks extra notice government will not have option than to embark on the enforcement of the order.
“We want to urge the house owners to use their houses for purpose for which approval was given to them either commercial or residential”. Prince Kanu said.
Kanu also revealed that Gov. Otti will flag off the reconstruction of the Umuahia-Ozuakoli-Ohafi road on Wednesday February 7, 2023.
He added that the road will be divided into three sections and awarded to three construction firms
Cranburg, Ferotex and China Civil Engineering Construction Company
for timely delivery of the project.
Kanu also announced that the state is embarking on the maintenance of 22 new roads scattered across the state.
The information boss also added that the government has outlawed multiple taxation in the state, adding that a new single multi-purpose agency will be introduced for the collection of government revenue with stringent measure against multiple taxation.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, cleared the air on the move by state government to purchase vehicles to the tune of 13 billion naira, pointing out that the vehicles were meant for goverment ministry and agencies and not for the personal use of the governor.