Aba remains the foremost commercial, industrial and entertainment city of Abia State. It is also the melting pot for all the Igbo race in their commercial and business adventurism. Hence His Excellency, Governor Theodore Orji has special interest for Aba, contrary to the erroneous impression created by some detractors that he cares less about the commercial city and its residents. Aba before now was in a State of decay and everybody knows that the previous administration in the State abandoned the city, which resulted to failed infrastructure in the area. To restore the city to its former glory, the present administration in the State embarked on an urban renewal programme geared towards opening up urban roads and drainages that have been blocked by street traders and other residents. The exercise is also aimed at eliminating the activities of touts that have created bottlenecks in commercial activities in Aba and restore customer’s confidence. Orji affirmed that he would continue to do everything that it takes to ensure the development of the city, and its full restoration to the glory of all Abians and all men and women of good-will. “Sometimes, I cannot help seeing Aba City as a broken piece of iron, very difficult to weld together, without drawing a spark.” He urged the hard working traders and other investing public in Aba, to cherish a healthy and clean city, as they develop their stores, markets, factories, all in attempt to build great wealth for everybody. “It is my belief that for the Aba city of our dream and desire, it would just be equally right to demand your support and cooperation for the benefit of this remarkable City. “Our Government is committed to developing Aba city in all aspects, and at the same time, attend to the needs of other parts of Abia State and its economy.” Consequently, the Environmental and Allied Task-Force, a special unit set up by the State Government to carry out the exercise has been demolishing illegal structures erected along the roads and drainages in the commercial city. Also recently, the Governor created a separate unit of the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) for Aba and environs, to enhance the agency’s operations in the commercial city. This unit, headed by Okezie Ikpeazu, a PHD holder, has within 3 months of its creation, has cleaned up Aba and the city today now ranks among the cleanest commercial cities in the country. Also not only has the agency succeeded in ridding the area of refuse dumps, it has also ensured that daily generated refuse are carted away in few hours. To support this new zeal of ASEPA, Aba unit, to clean up Aba, the Governor recently donated new equipment to boost its operations. The equipment comprises of a 30 ton capacity compactor, 5 number buckets of two types- a 7 ton bucket and 20 ton buckets and 150 litre refuse bin, which are intended to be put on the streets, especially in residential areas and around corporate offices. Governor Theodore Orji affirmed that Aba operations of the ASEPA was in need of equipment and urged the management to put the new equipment to use immediately. In the words of the Governor, “What we have here is a 30 ton capacity compactor, which we just procured for ASEPA, Aba and environs. We also have 5 number buckets of two types- 7 ton bucket and 20 ton buckets, which we use our roll-off trucks to pick. “We also have something that is slightly different, 150 litre refuse bin, which we intend to put on the streets, especially in residential areas and around corporate offices, which is a salutary gift from the ingenuity of Aba people, who also gave us the ASEPA Power Pack-a tricycle (Keke), mounted with a generator and a halogen lamp, which we use for our night operations. “We have one already in use,” he stated. The Governor however promised to continue to assist the agency in its operations every month, as the State resources permit. Okezie Ikpeazu, deputy general manager, ASEPA, Aba and environs, pledged on behalf of ASEPA, to put the equipment to good use. He said, “And as we strengthen our logistics base, we promise Aba residents that we will never relapse to the old days when refuse used to be a very big issue here. And by December this year, going by the strides of the Governor and his support, we promise Aba people that refuse problem will be history. “But I want to say that what is happening here, happens all over the world. Every city and every household generates rubbish. In some cities in America, they take away their refuse some on Mondays and Wednesdays and some Tuesdays and Fridays. What it means is that, for those cities that remove their refuse on Mondays and Fridays, if you go on Tuesday and open their buckets, you’ll see rubbish. “I feel seriously amused about those, who go to take photographs in the evenings when we ask people to bring out their refuse for disposal. If you take pictures of refuse bins in the evening, you must see rubbish, because by 5.00pm, we expect Aba residents to bring out their refuse for disposal, but after that time, we make sure that no refuse will be seen on the streets beyond three hours. “However, our target is to make sure that no refuse is on the street beyond one hour. And we can get to that point with the assistance of the Governor and residents of the commercial city.” Consequently, we expect our citizens of Aba, especially the private sector, to pay their taxes and levies willingly, so that our Government will continue to maintain the City and State infrastructure. Nnaji is the special assistant on e-Governance and Strategy to Abia State Governor
Nnaji Obed Asiegbu SA e-Governance & Strategy to the Abia State Governor nnajiobed@abiastate.gov.ng www.abiastate.gov.ng 08130196187
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