Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu said Government will no longer tolerate situations where Charlatans continue to create panic in the state through unlawful harassment of person in the guise of illegal and unlawful revenue collection.

Dr Ikpeazu who gave the warning while declaring open a one day Stakeholder’s Summit organized by the Ministry of Transport with the theme ” Streaming The Multiplicity Of Taskforces In Abia State held at the Women Development Centre Umuahia pointed out that the multiplicity Of Taskforces operating on our roads, to a very large extent, hampers the ease of doing business while Government will do it’s best to eliminate every adverse effect preventing investors from coming into the state to do business.

 

The Governor represented by his Deputy, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu commended the leadership of the Ministry of Transport for organizing the summit which he described as first of its kind, pointed out that checkmating the activities of multiplicity of Taskforces will not only enhance the State’s rating in the ease of doing business among the 36 states of the country, but help shur up the state’s IGR.

 

He called on the organizers and Allied sectors of the summit to make sure that they build up the willpower and courage that will enable them enforce the recommendations arrived at the end of the summit while they should not hesitate to call on Govt in areas of assistance, while expressing optimism that they will come up with wonderful resolutions that will be of benefit to all.

 

In his address, the  Commissioner for Transport, Chief Uche Nwanoruo said the Transport business is the engine of sustainable socio economic growth and development of any nation and stressed the need for all to join in effectively and efficiently manage the environmental implementation to mitigate its negative consequences.

 

Chief Nwanoruo said the menace of multiplicity of Taskforces in the state often result to loss of lives, collecting the revenue into wrong hands and private pockets, breeds corruption, Intimidation of road users and inadvertently portray the state in bad light and reiterates that the need for a good and effective Transport system in Abia State cannot be over emphasized.

 

In his remark, the Attorney General/Commissioner for Justice Chief Uche Ihediwa  represented by Agbai Iro Ogbuabia while citing the overview of Abia State Road Traffic and Management Law, 2010, as amended, underscored the importance of transportation noting that transport and logistics play significant role in the present world and remains key component of developmental infrastructure from one location to another.

 

In her address also , the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Mrs Ijeoma Clara Okere said the era of disgruntled elements parading themselves as members of Task Forces in Aba and Umuahia will cease to exist and disclosed that the Governor, Dr Okezie lkpeazu has directed that, henceforth, all Task Force groups must be identified and approved by Goverment.

 

The Summit which featured a lecture presentation titled” Streamlining The Multiplicity Of Task Forces In The State Transport Sector by Prof Calistus Ibe as well as goodwill messages from representatives of major stakeholders in the Transport Sector in the State attracted the presence of top Government Officials, Service Chiefs and various Transporters operating in the State.