A’Ibom acquires taxis to boost intra-state service

As part of efforts to boost the transport sector, Akwa Ibom government has acquired 500 units of buses alongside 1,000 air-conditioned taxis in partnership with the private to enhance intra and inter city services

Charles Udoh, commissioner for information and strategy, who disclosed this in Uyo, said the acquisition of the taxis and buses was a deliberate effort by the government to strengthen transport services. Udoh also disclosed plans by the state government to construct a superhighway to open up the coastal region of the state for more development.

According to him, the project would begin from Ibaka in Mbo local government area and would connect Ibeno with Ikot Abasi local government areas to ease the transportation of goods from the Ibom deep seaport and the oil and gas harbour to other parts of the state and country.

Udoh, who spoke at the end of the state executive council meeting, said the state government has granted approval for the opening of canals to aid channel rain water and reduce incidence of flooding in Uyo metropolis.

He said that a list of debtors to the Akwa Savings and Loans Limited would soon be published in national dailies and that legal instruments have been put in place to prosecute the loan defaulters with a view to recovering the money.

On the communal clashes between Ikot Akpan Udo in Ikot Abasi local government area and the Amazaba community in Eastern Obolo, as well as the clash between Oron and Okobo local government areas of the state, he said a committee for the implementation of resolutions would soon be raised to restore normalcy in the feuding communities.

Udoh stated that the council also deliberated on the need to intensify revenue drive in the state and therefore directed the ministry of information and strategy to collaborate with the ministry of transport to ensure that oil firms and its allied companies pay their expected taxes to the state government.