………………. Ready To Regulate Laying Of Telecom Cables.
FIC Report (Abia State) – In a bid to restore sanity in the transport system, the Abia State Government (ABSG) has concluded plans to rejig the enforcement of the existing traffic rules in the state.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this in Government House Umuahia while briefing journalists about the outcome of the first State Executive Council meeting of the year.
He decried that driving against the traffic in Abia state has become a menace and said that the Dr. Alex Otti led administration is committed to enforcing the traffic rules.
“Government is poised to ensure that there is full compliance with the extant traffic rules in Aba and Umuahia.
“Going forward, it will be a serious 0 to drive against traffic no matter the distance. You see a lot of people within the town drive against the traffic for one reason or the other.
“It is now a very serious offence, and the harmonized taskforce has been rejigged to ensure full compliance to that policy,” Kanu stated.
The Commissioner said that the Abia state government is set to rebase and update the 30-year development plan of the state government. He explained that re-basing has become imperative given the economic headwinds prevalent in the country and as typified by the headline inflation being experienced in the country today. Prince Kanu noted that there is a need to carry out the exercise to reflect the real position of the state’s economy. He informed that the state economic team charged with the assignment is already at work to ensure the success of the exercise.
He equally said that in order to give further impetus to the traditional institution in the state as a beacon of our cultural heritage, the state government has commenced the payment of monthly stipends that range between N250,000 to N350,000 to traditional rulers in the state. He noted that in addition to that, members of the council of the traditional rulers at the state level will get additional 100,000 monthly as seating allowance even as this would also be applied to the traditional rulers leadership at the LGA level stressing that, “all these are being done to give a pride of place to our traditional rulers”, who are partners in progress with the state government.
Prince Okey Kanu said that the state government is set to regulate the right of way for laying of telecommunications cables around the state.
He informed that, “The final document for the right of way regulation for laying of telecom cables around the state has been produced, and this will come into effect very soon.
“That is made to regulate how telecommunications cables are laid across the state,” Kanu explained.
Contributing, the commissioner for Science, Technology and Innovation, Mr. David Kalu said that the regulation would provide rules of laying cables and added that the Abia State government is domesticating a Start-Up Act aimed at helping science and technology start-ups.
According to him, the programme would involve training and processes that would enhance businesses of start-ups, especially in areas such as online content, branding, etc.
He disclosed that the first science and technology week will take place in Abia state between the 24th and 29th of March 2025.
He stated that plans have commenced in that regard, and science and technology companies and high technology experts would participate during the week. He equally said that a special programme tagged “STEM”, that is Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics targeted at senior secondary school students and which aims at investing in the future of science students is ongoing in the state.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, his Transport counterpart, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, the Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ferdinand Ekeoma and the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, were present at the briefing.
Signed
Abiakam Gloria Ify
HOC, FIC Umuahia Abia state.
