The Abia State Government has expressed concern over the rate of vandalism of government projects, particularly power assets, across the state.
Addressing the press on Tuesday on the outcome of the week’s Executive Council meeting held on Monday, the state Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said the situation was disrupting electricity supply and imposing additional financial burdens on the government.
He said, “Such unwholesome acts disrupt the flow of electricity, while creating additional financial burden for the state government in terms of cost of replacement of stolen or vandalized power assets.
“President-Generals of our town unions, our traditional rulers, and security agencies are advised to devise new strategies to curb this growing menace in our communities.
“All relevant stakeholders are advised to take ownership of government projects in their communities, particularly those that relate to power.”
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On flooding in many communities in the state, the commissioner said efforts had been made to clear drainage channels across the state.
He said, “There have been serious efforts on the part of both ASEPA and the Ministry of Environment to clear most of the drains in the state.
“They did all this before, even before the rainy season. Naturally, you know, the rains somehow, floods will happen. We are finding their way through the community. So, the state government is working very hard to ensure that these things, their occurrences, are brought down to the barest minimum.”
Kanu said the water projects under the Abia Integrated Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Programme were ongoing, adding that the rehabilitation of five water schemes was at various stages of completion.
He said, “Rehabilitation of five water schemes, including pipeline recirculation, is ongoing in three sanitary zones of the state, and these projects are at different levels or stages of completion.”
Also speaking on the flooding, the Commissioner for Power and Public Utilities, Engr. Ikechukwu Monday, said climate change had contributed to the increasing incidence of flooding across the country.
He said, “Of course, you know that in the period we are in, climate change has caused a lot of disasters. That is the truth. We are experiencing serious flooding across the Federation.
“So, UCDA (Umuahia Capital Development Authority) is doing its own; the Ministry of Works is doing its own. If you go to Aba, GADA (Greater Aba Development Authority) has laid out comprehensive plans of what government wants to do.
“So, it is very holistic. And whenever a new problem occurs anywhere, all the agencies that are in charge move in swiftly to ensure that the solution is provided. Some of them come unannounced.”
According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, the State Emergency Management Agency was responsible for providing relief materials to victims of disasters.
He said, “When it comes to relief materials, SEMA (State Emergency Management Agency) is handling that responsibility,” adding that the government would also find out what the agency was doing to ensure that victims received the necessary support.
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