• State ready for South East economic, security summit
Shanties, brothels and other suspected criminal hideouts and enclaves, along the Uturu-Umunneochi-Lokpanta axis, in Abia State, have reportedly been demolished.

The areas, on the axis of the Abia State University Uturu (ABSU), Okigwe Town, roads leading to Ebonyi State, Owerri (Imo State) and Enugu to the Northern states, including the animal/cattle market, have been notorious for incidents of kidnapping, armed robberies, rape, among other acts of criminality over the years.

The development, according to the Security Adviser to Governor Alex Otti, MacDonald Ubah, (retired Navy Commander), has been receiving necessary security attention to curb all forms of crime in the area, including the launch of a security task force, “Operation Crush,” by the governor.

Ubah, who spoke, yesterday, when the Information and Culture Commissioner, Prince Okey Kanu, interacted with journalists, restated the state government’s commitment to ensuring that Abia is number one in the country in all spheres with security as its top priority.

He consequently issued stern warning to those making Abia insecure and uncomfortable for people to live and undertake their legitimate businesses, asking them to retrace their steps or be crushed.

The Commissioner disclosed that three additional roads, recently reconstructed by the state government to complement the three already commissioned in Aba two weeks ago, will be commissioned as soon as installation of Solar powered street lights are concluded on them.  He added that the ongoing lighting-up Abia project, which, he said, has improved the security of the state, is also aimed at creating business opportunities for Abians and investors alike, including improved state aesthetics.

On the worrisome condition of the Abia section of the Enugu-Okigwe – Aba-Port Harcourt Express Road, the Commissioner recalled the recent visit of the Federal Works Minister, David Umahi, to the state, indicating that palliative work will be done within the next 14 days to ease human and vehicular movements.

He informed that the state is set to fully and actively participate in the South East Investment/Economic and Security Summit scheduled to be held on September 28, 2023, in Owerri.