Abia to procure security operational vehicles from Innoson Motors

Abia State government has announced its decision to procure yet to be disclosed number of security patrol vans from one of the country’s indigenous motor manufacturing company, Innoson Motor, Nnewi, Anambra State.

This is even as the government disclosed that it has also recommended the reactivation of Abia State Vigilante Services with special mandate to protect educational infrastructure across the state as well as safeguard local government offices.

The decision of the Abia State government was coming at a time when the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is championing campaign for the local industry which the incumbent Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu led government has keyed into with the promotion of Made in Aba leader and textile industry.

The information commissioner, Chief John Okiyi, while briefing journalists at the end of the State Executive Council meeting chaired by the state Governor, Dr. Ikpeazu, disclosed that the purchase of the security vehicles was to enable security agencies to improve patrol and to be able to deal with post-election security challenges in the state.

Okiyi went further to state that the State Executive Council also resolved to prioritize the completion of ongoing projects embarked upon by the administration, stressing that greater focus would be on education, road infrastructure, agriculture, job creation, health and security

According to the Information Commissioner, the State Executive Council also approved the deployment of arbitration mechanism to resolve longstanding contract disputes that preceeded the incumbent administration of Ikpeazu and went ahead to direct the restructuring of the state civil service for optimal performance and greater efficiency.

On what the government is doing to strengthen the education sector, Okiyi stated that the meeting adopted the report of the internal committee that reviewed the qualifications of staff of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, as well as the optimization of staff of the institution including a review of some ongoing projects such as Aba-Owerri Road Aba, Aba Road Umuahia, Osisioma flyover, Osusu Road, Aba and Abiriba-Nkporo Road to ensure completion within 120days.

“Exco recommended the recruitment of a new Chief Medical Director (CMD) for Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba, to replace the outgoing CMD. The mandate of the incoming CMD includes growing internally generated revenue of the institution, minimize waste and grow human and material capital of the institution through innovation.

“Exco directs the sourcing of private partners to develop the Ubani Ibeku Agro-Industrial cluster with emphasis on deployment of cassava, rice and palm processing facilities.

“Council directs further engagement with relevant stakeholders on the establishment of new GSM and computer dealers mall in Aba.

“Exco received update on preparation for the second term inauguration of the Governor and his Deputy and directed the relevant committees to ensure that adequate arrangements are made to ensure a hitch-free celebration.

“Exco directed the ministries of youth development and women affairs to collaborate with the ministry of land to ensure early development of new amusement parks at Umuahia and Aba for Abia families.

“Exco received and accepted the interim report of the Works and Project Review Committee on designated first 100 days projects.

“Exco directed the various reform committees to ensure timely submission of reports. Exco directed the full implementation of the contributory pension scheme, National Health Insurance Scheme and Hospital Information Management System,” stated Okiyi

Recall that the management of the Federal Road Safety and Anambra State government had got delivery of some patrol vans and ambulances from Innoson as part of their efforts to promote local content manufacturers.