Government orders arrest of illegal revenue collectors, threatens to sanction contractors

Abia State government has set up a committee to arrest people collecting illegal revenue from citizens and businessmen in Aba and other parts of the state, warning that henceforth, anyone caught would be prosecuted. The governor also threatened to sanction non-performing or poorly performing contractors handling government projects in the state. Commissioner for Information, Comrade Bonnie Iwuoha, while addressing journalists in Umuahia, said the government’s action was sequel to its worry over reports that several groups were collecting sundry revenue from the citizens without government approval.

He also said that the state government awarded contracts for the renovation of the child and maternal ward at the Abia State University Teaching hospital at the cost of about N65m, for the rehabilitation of 14.5km Umuocheala-Abayi Road in Isiala Ngwa South LGA, the 7.5km Nbawsi- Eziala-Osusu-Okpuala Ngwa Road and the Abayi Ariaria- Umuakpara Road.

Other contracts he said were approved for award include the 4.5 km Faulks Road and the rehabilitation and expansion of the Ifeobara pond at the cost of N6.8bn and the contract for the 6.15km Amuda Isuochi Road in Umunneochi LGA at the cost of N836.2m. amongst others.