South East breaking News
The minister of states for Mines and Steel Development,Dr Uchechukwu
Ogah has expressed his willingness to work together with the Abia
State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu in the development of the state.
The Minister made his feelings known when he paid a courtesy visit to
Abia State Governor, Dr Ikpeazu at the Government House, Umuahia.
According to him, politics is over and now is time for governance.
‘’Im a minister of the federal Republic of Nigeria representing Abia
State at the federal executive council. And I have the mandate to
always state out issues that will help to develop this state for the
interest of our state.We should all work together as a team for us to
develop for the interest of the people and state.”
“If there are areas that the federal government needs to come in to
help the state government should contact me. I believe I have the
capacity to reach out to the federal so that the interest of the state
should be protected.
He pointed out that there are so much that he and the Governor can do
together to attract to the state what is due to it, adding that his
visit is among others to share ideas with the state chief executive on
how to move Abia forward.
The minister who stated that he was in the state to represent the
president at the burial of late Mr John Aguiyi Ironsi, son of the
former Head of state, disclosed that he had necessary contacts at the
federal level on how to ensure that Abia benefits from the federal
government.
In that regard, he assured that the federal government will help in
tackling illegal mining activities and erosion menace in the state and
called for more collaboration to achieve that.
Receiving the Minister, the Governor, Dr Ikpeazu congratulated him on
his appointment and for deeming it fit to pay him the visit.
He explained that there are a lot they can achieve for the state from
the centre.
Dr Ikpeazu however decried illegal minining activities going on in the
state and attributed it to the issuance of mining licence by the
federal government without recourse to the state.
He equally lamented the devastating menace of erosion in the state,
disclosing that about 25% of land belonging to the state has been
eaten up by erosion.
He informed that through the intervention of the NEWMAP, 3 critical
erosion sites in the state have been reclaimed , adding that the
Isuikwuato erosion menace requires urgent attention of the federal
government.
The Governor who sought for more collaboration from the federal
government expressed confidence in the ability of the minister to
represent the state well at the federal executive council.