Abia Govt threatens to shut down businesses in Aba, arrest, prosecute owners

Abia State Government has threatened to shut down some businesses, arrest and prosecute their owners for allegedly sabotaging government projects in the commercial city of Aba.

The warning was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Barr. Onyebuchi Ememanka, which stated that Government has noted with great dismay, incessant acts of sabotage of the Eziukwu – Cemetery Road project by businessmen who deal on sand and gravel, including block moulders along Eziukwu Road, Aba.

According to Ememanka, despite repeated appeals by the Contractor handling the project, “the businessmen have persisted in their acts of sabotage by deliberately blocking the new drainage lines with heaps of sand and gravel.”

The statement specifically warned dealers on sand, gravel and block moulders around Eziukwu Road to stop forthwith, the habit of dropping these items on the road or on top of drainage lines, stressing that all forms of block moulding on drainages must stop immediately.

“Some of them have converted the new drainage lines into platforms for block moulding and have been removing manhole covers installed by the Contractor for safety purposes,” he stated.

“Government shall no longer tolerate these nefarious acts. No responsible government will fold its arms and watch unscrupulous persons destroy infrastructural facilities being put in place for the good of the people, under the guise of running a business.

“While the Abia State Government supports the growth of businesses in the state, such growth must not be at the expense of public safety, welfare and protection of public property.

“The Abia State Government is committing huge sums of public funds into these projects and will not tolerate a situation where ongoing projects are sabotaged by the same persons who are meant to benefit from the projects upon completion,” the statement read in part.

Ememanka disclosed that Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, has ordered these categories of businessmen along Eziukwu Road to, as a matter of urgency, abate any form of nuisance their activities have posed along that axis, maintain a reasonable distance between the road and their business premises or face the full wrath of the law.

“Any person that violates these directives shall be promptly arrested and prosecuted. Government will not hesitate to shut down and take over that area should these illegal and unwholesome activities persist,” the statement warned.

Furthermore, the release by the CPS said that Ikpeazu has ordered the Honorable Commissioner for Environment, Dr Solomon Ogunji, and the Transition Committee Chairmen of Aba North and Aba South Local Government Areas to immediately move into Eziukwu Road “and take all lawful and necessary steps to implement these directives.”