From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
Governor Alex Otti has stressed the need for all to cultivate maintenance culture to avoid wasteful spending.
Otti stated this while handing over five refurbished Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) vehicles to the Nigerian Police. Recalling that his administration met the vehicles in a terrible state of disrepair, vowed never to allow public assets to deteriorate to such an extent where they would take a lot of money to repair.
“When we came in exactly 20 months ago, on the 29th of May 2023, we saw littered here these vehicles in very terrible state of disrepair,” he said.
Otti disclosed that the last of the vehicles had been taken to Abuja for repair and refurbishing process.
“Being that I know that these vehicles have a long staying power, we took a very principal decision to refurbish one or two of them, by the time we started, we found out that it was not too difficult and therefore I authorized that about six of them be repaired.
“Five of them are ready, while we are still struggling with the last one, five of them have been completely retrofitted and they’re as good as new. It’s all about maintenance and our believe is that never again would we allow our assets to dilapidate to this state, a lot of things that we throw away can be easily fixed and we have demonstrated it,” Gov. Otti stated.
The Governor charged the Police Command to ensure judicious use of the vehicles and their regular maintenance.
The Commissioner of Police, Abia State Command, CP Danladi Isa thanked Governor Otti for his numerous support to the Nigerian Police, saying that the Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) would help them improve on security duties.