Abia State Government has assured residents that it will provide adequate security for them, especially this year.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, stated this while briefing the press on the outcome of this week’s state executive council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti, stating that the state government would not yield any part of the state to criminals and criminal elements.
“As a responsible government, the administration will continue to take the security of lives and property of Abians very seriously. As the yuletide approaches, the state government wishes to reassure Abians that the government will stop at nothing to ensure that the lives and property of Abia residents are protected. The state government will not yield any part of the state to criminals.”
Prince Kanu disclosed that the Nigerian Army recently launched a security operation codenamed “UdoKa,” stating that the operation is to ensure the peace and protection of lives and property of Abia residents during the yuletide and even beyond.
“What that means is that in the days and weeks ahead, security agencies will be very visible around the state. By this announcement, we are assuring Abia residents that they (security men) are out there for their own good, and all that the government requires from Abia residents is cooperation and their readiness to avail the security agencies with necessary information” about security breaches around the state, Kanu stated.
The Commissioner used the occasion to announce that the state government has banned free medical missions in the state, adding, “Going forward, all free medical missions in the state must be approved by the Commissioner for Health.
“It is now an offence to render such philanthropic healthcare or free services without the express approval of the Commissioner for Health,” Kanu stated.
According to the Commissioner, the essence is to forestall untoward consequences of unregulated medical outreach or programs that may hurt rather than heal or help Abia residents.
Prince Okey Kanu disclosed that starting from Tuesday, the 26th Government would begin a season of multiple road flag-offs and commissioning of roads till the end of the year.
Responding to questions, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Matters, Navy Commander MacDonald Ubah Rtd, said the governor has told the men of the Nigeria Army in Abia State that they should not be subjecting Abia residents to raising of hands at military checkpoints.
He informed me that a new regulation is on the way to increase understanding between road users and the military at various checkpoints across the state.
According to him, the Nigerian Army has made available a 3-digit line 193 to deepen the confidence of civilians in the military and assure the security of the people, adding, “Take it as given, we will be able to sleep with our two eyes closed. No inch of Abia will be left under whatever guise to criminals. Nobody will hold Abians to ransom.”
READ MORE FROM: NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
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