Abia Govt Targets Food Security, Infrastructure, Urban Growth

The Abia State Government has said it’s targeting food security, urban renewal, and infrastructure development across the state.

This was disclosed to journalists on Tuesday during a joint press briefing attended by the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Okey Kanu, Special Advisor to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekoma, Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze and the General Manager of the Umuahia Capital Development Authority (UCDA), Mr. Kingsley Agomuo.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Chris Agbaeze, announced that Governor Alex Otti, has approved the establishment of a CSS-type large-scale integrated farming structure in Abia State.

This initiative aims to boost the state’s food production capacity and provide a training ground for young people to engage in agriculture and agribusiness.

“When that is in place here in the state, it will not only boost the food production capacity of the state government, it will also offer a training ground for our teeming youths to go into agriculture and agribusiness,” he said.

The Commissioner also highlighted the success of the first phase of the CSS farms and trained farmers, with an 80% success rate.

Beneficiaries who utilized the interest-free funds judiciously will be empowered further, while those who failed to account for the funds will face sanctions.

“Most unfortunately, about 26 of the beneficiaries did not make themselves available for access or supervision of their projects, and as such, cannot adequately account for the funds extended to them. The details of appropriate sanctions to be meted out to such beneficiaries will be unfolded in the days ahead,” Agbaeze said.

Similarly, the Commissioner for Information, Mr. Okey Kanu also announced that the government is undertaking urban renewal and road beautification projects, including the construction of a new roundabout on Library Avenue at the State House Gate and a tree planting exercise along Library Avenue and RBC Boulevard.

“In line with the urban renewal and road beautification program of the state government, a new roundabout is being constructed on Library Avenue at the State House gate and the tree planting exercise has commenced,” Kanu said.

Regarding the recent collapse of an uncompleted three-story building in Umuahia, the UCDA General Manager, Mr. Kingsley Agomuo , reported that the site engineer has been arrested and is assisting the police in their investigations.

Recall that the building, which belonged to Chief Ikechi Emenike, collapsed on Saturday, injuring three people. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported.

“Fortunately, there were no fatalities from the collapse. However, about three people were injured and fortunately for them as well, the Honorable Commissioner for Health and his team were readily on hand to offer them first aid, and later took them to hospital for more comprehensive treatments,” Agomuo said.

“The road infrastructure revolution of the state government continues unabated, despite the vagaries of weather at this time of the year and direct labor activities are going on in 51 locations across the state,” he said.

The state government announced a new policy requiring all new buildings with more than two floors to undergo integrity tests.

Agomuo reemphasised that, “Every new building will be subjected to a technical test. If you’re approaching a new one, you leave that properly supervised.”

Abia Govt Targets Food Security, Infrastructure, Urban Growth is first published on The Whistler Newspaper