News: Abia gives Imo govt ultimatum

THE crisis brewing between Abia and Imo State governments over the ejection of Abia Transport Company from its park in Owerri, deepened weekend, with the former giving the latter till tomorrow to secure a new loading bay for its transport company.


Abia State government threatened to also eject Imo Transport Company from the state, if its Imo counterpart failed to accede to its appeal by today.

It said the threat became necessary because of alleged refusal of Imo government to heed to its previous appeals to give Abia Line a place to operate in Owerri.

Chief Press Secretary to Governor Theodore Orji, Mr. Ugochukwu Emezue, said in a statement that  the state government  did not believe the reason given by its Imo counterpart  for the ejection, saying other transport companies were still operating from the same park.

According to Emezue, since Abia Lines’ loading bay in Owerri was shut down, Abians were finding it very difficult to come back home.

He said all efforts by Abia Lines to get another loading bay in the Imo State capital had allegedly been frustrated by the state government officials.

“Interestingly, Peace Mass Transit which also operates within the same neighboourhood with Abia Lines is yet to be ejected, as Imo government is claiming that the ejection order was based on its plan to reclaim the master plan of the capital city of Owerri,” Emezue.

According to Emezue, “if by Tuesday Abia Line is not returned to its loading bay, Abia State government will also begin the restoration of the master plan of Aba and Umuahia, which will affect Imo Transport loading bays in the affected areas.”

Emezue called on human right activists, social crusaders and all well meaning Nigerians to condemn the hostile action of Imo State government, adding that now was the right time for the activists to act and not wait to criticise Abia government’s retaliatory measures.