Tough Times Await those Driving Against Traffic on Abia as Govt Stipulates Stringent Penalty

Abia State Government, through the State Ministry of Transport, has set up a team to commence immediate enforcement of driving against traffic, otherwise known as one-way driving.

The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu announced this in Umuahia while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

Kanu said that the State government has taken time to observe how this has become a menace in our cities, particularly in Umuahia and Aba and has decided to stop the scourge.

“Driving against traffic is causing a lot of accidents across the state, and the time has come for the culprits to be apprehended and dealt with,” Kanu said.

“The enforcement of these rules will be very stringent. Offenders will be prosecuted and fined very heavily, and when you cannot pay your fines, your vehicle will be impounded.

“Over time, if you don’t pick it up, it will be auctioned. They are going to be very stringent so that people will begin to learn how to conduct themselves, drive safely in our cities, and stop endangering the lives of other road users.”

In another development, the Information Commissioner informed that, the State Ministry of Health has issued an urgent health advisory regarding the outbreak of diphtheria in the neighbouring Imo state, calling on Abian to take preventive measures.

He listed preventive measures to include vaccination for children and adults who are not sure of their diphtheria status, good hygiene practices, community vigilance, urging parents take any child that shows any symptom of the disease to the hospital.

Prince Kanu, advised citizens to report any suspected case to local health authorities and urged stakeholders to help to disseminate the information.

He however, announced that the Federal Ministry of Health has declared Abia state free of river blindness after 30 years of mass drug administration to control the disease.

Kanu noted that the Government’s investment in sports has continued to bear fruit, as the State contingent won a total of 70 medals, comprising 12 gold, 18 silver, and 40 bronze, at the recently concluded National Sports Festival, which placed Abia 11th on the overall ranking of the medal table.

He said the Abia State Ministry of Youth and Sports will host an Abia Youth Stakeholders Town Hall Meeting in the state on Friday this week to deliberate on practical solutions to the urgent issues facing the youth in the state, including unemployment, insecurity, drug abuse and other such issues.

He used the forum to inform that 42 projects will be commissioned, while 13 new ones will be flagged off by Governor Alex Otti in the coming weeks, bringing the total to 55 projects across the State.

The Commissioner for Transport, Dr. Chimezie Ukaegbu, his Youth and Sports Development counterpart, Nwaobilor Ananaba and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma were present at the briefing.