By Ononye VC
Following an unscheduled visit to the notorious Upper Iweka axis Onitsha during the week,the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo has vowed to clean and rid Upper Iweka, Onitsha of touts and illegal structures.
While addressing a crowd which gathered at Upper Iweka during his visit,the Governor announced that there are strict rules for motor parks administrators if they want to operate, pointing out that all vehicles must operate within the garages, not loading on the established walkways.
He warned that any garage that does not comply with the directive will be locked up, assuring that Upper Iweka will no longer be a den for touts and criminals.
“From Moore street-Iweka road through Ochanja, down to Owerri road we are fixing and cleaning up the area to make it clean. All petty traders along the road will be relocated to Oduigbo and Ogbaru,” the Governor said.
He decried how the transport buses block the drainages, ordering them to leave the spots and start loading inside their respective parks.
The Governor stressed the disorderliness and lawlessness in Onitsha is driving away customers who intend to come from far away to trade in the state and warned criminal elements perpetrating illegality and criminality in the state to leave or face the full weight of the law.
“If you must remain in Anambra, you must be gainfully employed. If you are jobless, enroll in the one youth two skills to be empowered. Those who completed the pilot phase will be empowered very soon”, he added.
On his part, the TC Chairman of Onitsha South, Mr. Emeka Orji who was tasked by the Governor to ensure that transport bus companies that keep loading on drainages are sealed up, lauded the Governor for coming to ascertain the outlook of the area.
Secretary to the State Government Prof Solo Chukwulobelu, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Ernest Ezeajughi, Chief Protocol officer, Hon Chinedu Nwoye (Glamour), Commissioner for Youth Mr Patrick Agha Mba, among others accompanied the Governor to the visit.
