Sanitation: Abia to engage street sweepers in Aba

Abia State Government, Monday, commenced engagement of street sweepers to support the efforts of the Aba zone of the State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) to sanitise Aba.

The move is in line with the Aba urban renewal programme, geared towards opening up inner city roads and drainages that have been blocked by street traders and other residents.

The selected individuals, would be deployed to the newly constructed roads in the commercial city that includes, Omeni Link Road, Kamalu Street, Chima Nwafo Road (former Umuojima Road), Umuocham Road, Umuehilegbu Road, Umuojima Road, Owere Street, Ochefu Road, Weeks Street, Owerenta Street, Umuola Road, Ukaegbu Road and Ehere Roads.

The State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, also observed that people park vehicles indiscriminately within Aba urban, thereby creating vehicular and human traffic challenges and appealed to all residents and visitors, whose vehicles are parked indiscriminately along Ochefu, Owerrinta, Weeks streets and other areas in Aba, to remove them from the streets.

He also directed the State’s Traffic and Indiscipline Management Agency (TIMAAS) to commence removal of the vehicles parked on Ochefu Road and other adjoining streets in Aba (including those parked by motor mechanics) from Tuesday, September 6, 2016.

The Governor however appealed to those who park indiscriminately along St. Michael’s road, Jubilee road, Hospital road and other roads in the commercial city to regulate themselves by ensuring that vehicles are parked on a single lane, pending when proper designation of parking zones and lots for Aba inner city.

Rowland Nwakanma, deputy general manager, ASEPA, Aba and Environs, has warned traders to stop trading on the streets and highways to avoid the inherent dangers associated with street trading.

He stated that the agency will now monitor regularly street trading in Aba with the view to clearing the city of street trading, which according to him, contributes to the defacing of the city.

Aba, is the eye of Abia State, as it hosts patrons from other States of the federation as well as neighbouring countries like Cameroon, Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, among other sub-Saharan African countries.

Aba remains the foremost commercial, industrial and entertainment city of not just Abia State, but the entire Southeast region of the country. It is also the melting pot for all the Igbo race in their commercial and business adventurism.

Aba before now was in a State of decay and everybody knows that the previous administrations in the State abandoned the city, which resulted to failed infrastructure in the area.

To restore the city to its former glory, the present administration in the State, has embarked on an urban renewal programme, geared towards opening up urban roads and drainages that have been blocked by street traders and other residents.