Abia State Government has announced that the proposed Citizens’ Engagement Centrwas ready for commissioning, as it continuto tstrsteps towards st?rengthening g?ood governance, improving se?curity, enhancing service delivery, and promoting innovation across the state.
Okey Kanu, state’s commissioner for Information, disclosed this while briefing journalists on the outcome of the week’s State ExCouncil meeting, presi?ded over by Gove?rnor Alex Otti.
The Citizens’ EngCentre is a technologydriven platform d?esigne?d to deepen communication betwe?en government and citizens, by provian effective channel forreal-time interaction.
The centrwill receive aprocess citi’? inquiries, complaints, su?ggestions, and? feedback, directing them to the relevan?t M?inistries, Departments, and Agencies for prompt attention.
Beyond citiengage?ent, the centre will also serve as a d?ata collection and processing hub that will support evidence-based policymaking, programme evaluation, and improved gover?nment service delivery.
Kanu also updaresidents on the state government’s strategic p?artnership wi?th MTN Nigeria, aimed at achieving 100 percent voice and data network coverage across the state.
He said that the first ph?ase of the proj?ect was expected to be completed within 8 to 10 weeks.
W?hen completed, Kanu said that the in?itiative would significa?ntly improve digital connectivity,? promote sociand fin, enhance accesto edand healthcare services, and strengthen se?curity by e?nsuring reliable n?etw?ork coverage across communities, including remote areas.
On secu?rity and public safety, the Abia State Commissioner for Information said that the Governmenthas commencedthe comprehenenfoothe ban on commercial? motorcycles, popularly known a?s Okada in designated restricted? areas of Umuahia, Aba, and Ohafia.
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The enforcement is p?art of government’s comm?itment to strengthening security and ensuring a safer? e?nvi?ronment? for residents.
He explained that motorcycles operating on A?bia roads, whether for commercial, private, courier, or d?elivery purposes, are now required to ber, noting that Abia State Harmonised Task Force, working wi?th security agencies, will enforce compliance.
He noted that contravening operinrestricted areas wifa penalty of N50,000, whil?e designateloading bays have beeprovided for impounded motorcycles.
Kanu said that the Abia StaB?ard of Internal Revenue will maintain a comprehen?sive database of registered motorcycles, while approved riders will receive colour-coded reflective j?ckets based on t?heir senatorial districts and unique local government identification numbers? for easy identi?fication and monitoring.
For registermotorcycles used for courier and delivery services, Kanu said that they will stricnot be allowed tocarry passeng?ers, and that a?ll rid?ers must comply with the approved identific?ation system.
Kanu, while acknowledging the temchall?e?nges t?he policy may bring to citizens, emphasised that the safety and secu?rity of Abians r?mained the priori?ty of government.
He added that alternative transportation arrangements were beingconsid?ered to cushion the impact on residents and operators, noting that the Governor Alex Otti-led adminis?tration? rem?ains committed to building a secure, in?tive, people-c?entred, and dig?itally con?nected Abia State, where governance is closer to the people.